John Swinney warns Scots jails 'bursting at the seams' as more prisoners set to be released early

The First Minister warned the safety of prison officers and inmates was being threatened by overcrowding in some jails.

John Swinney has warned Scotland's prisons are "bursting at the seams" as the SNP Government prepares to release more inmates early to ease overcrowding.

The First Minister said action was required as the safety of prison staff was being threatened as a result of the issues in some jails. But the SNP leader faced questions today on the kind of prisoners who could be granted their freedom if ministers opt for a repeat of the early release scheme.

More than 8,300 inmates are currently banged up across the country - many of them in crumbling Victorian nicks like Barlinnie in Glasgow, which is due to close by 2027.

Swinney was speaking before Angela Constance, the Justice Secretary, made a statement on the expansion of the early release programme. A similar initiative saw 477 convicts freed during an early release programme this summer in a bid to ease overcrowding.

The First Minister insisted the Scottish Government will “take a responsible approach” to the issue, adding they would "always take into account the perspectives and the views of victims".

New Scots Tory leader Russell Findlay raised fears about the kind of prisoners who could be granted their freedom if ministers opt for a repeat of the early release scheme.

He said: “The Government is now considering the early release of some of the most dangerous criminals in Scotland.”

He added that victims’ groups fear “killers, rapists, domestic abusers, drug dealers and child abusers could be freed early”.

Findlay added: “Let’s take a look at the kind of criminals we could be talking about if a new form of SNP early release is announced today.

“Here’s some examples of recent sentences imposed by Scottish courts – seven years for raping a 10-year-old girl, nine years for stabbing a man to death, five years for sexually abusing four young boys.

“All of these criminals, and many, many others like them, could be let out early.”

He condemned the SNP Government for the “catastrophic state” of Scotland’s prisons.

Findlay claimed: “Over the past 17 years the SNP have relentlessly weakened justice in Scotland, criminals already get away with inflicting pain and misery on innocent people due to the SNP’s failure to tackle crime. Victims and the law abiding majority are paying the price.

“For far too long the SNP’s justice system has sided with criminals and not victims.”

But Swinney insisted those claims were “patently untrue” and “complete nonsense”. The First Minister told MSPs: “Over the last decade the average length of prison sentences has increased by 32%, that statistic alone demonstrates that Russell Findlay is putting complete nonsense to me.”

He added that 98 per cent of those convicted of either rape or attempted rape between 2019 and 2022 had had a prison term imposed, saying that was “another fact which refutes what Russell Findlay has put to me today”.

He said the Government has “an obligation to ensure we run a stable and safe prison system”, and stressed the need to “address the rising prison population in a sustainable and effective way”.

Swinney said: “Fundamentally there is a difficulty about the rise in the prison population, the prison population this morning is sitting at 8,322, it’s a very high level.

“Ministers are concerned for the wellbeing of prison officer staff and for prisoners as a consequence of the level of congestion there is in our prisons.”

Scottish politics

• Shipbuilder goes into administration
• Games 'likely' to return to Glasgow
• Scottish Labour 'losing members'
• SNP told to 'take responsibility'

To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, clickhere

Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.