Latest news with #ScottishCrimeandJusticeSurvey
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Freeing criminals early from Scots prisons will ‘erode trust' in justice, charity warns
SNP ministers sneaked through the move unannounced before parly broke up for the summer, with the new home detention curfew rules kicking in from October 'SHAMEFUL' Freeing criminals early from Scots prisons will 'erode trust' in justice, charity warns FREEING criminals from jail after just 15 per cent of their sentence will 'erode trust' in justice, a charity has warned. Victim Support Scotland has hit out at a new law allowing cons to be freed from prison after just 15 per cent of their sentence would 'erode trust' in the justice system. Advertisement 2 Victim Support Scotland has raised concerns over the impact on trust in the justice system due to releasing prisoners early Credit: Getty 2 Scottish Tory MSP Liam Kerr said inmates will be "rubbing their hands with glee" Credit: Alamy We told earlier how SNP ministers sneaked through the move unannounced before parly broke up for the summer, with the new home detention curfew rules kicking in from October. It means inmates, including violent offenders, could be freed on an electronic tag after 15 per cent of their sentence, down from the current 25 per cent. Victim Support Scotland said the move was 'concerning', especially given 'the current lack of capacity for prisoner rehabilitation' in Scotland's jails. A spokeswoman said: 'The recent Scottish Crime and Justice Survey shows decreasing confidence in the criminal justice system - this has been a repeated trend for the last five years. Advertisement 'Measures like these early release measures contribute to this erosion of trust.' There were almost 6,000 criminals fitted with tags in 2023/24, with an increase of 14 per cent on the previous year. Tragic cases involving criminals on home detention curfew include the 2017 murder of Paisley dad Craig McClelland by killer James Wright, who'd sabotaged his tag and dodged cops for six months. The SNP, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Greens voted for the move this week, but the Scottish Tories opposed it. Advertisement Tory shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr said prisoners across Scotland 'will be rubbing their hands with glee at the SNP's shameful capitulation to criminals'. Victim Support Scotland, headed by chief exec , said its primary concern was 'the safety and wellbeing of people impacted by crime' and said victims must be informed of any early releases so they can 'plan for their safety and even risk meeting perpetrators unexpectedly in their community'. Heartbreaking Old Firm march Grieving parents call for knife crime action in Scotland The spokeswoman added: 'We fear further Emergency Early Release programmes alongside Prisoner Early Release and revised Home Detention Curfew regulations, begging the question of any meaningful prison sentence or rehabilitation for offenders.' A Scottish Government research report this month said offenders released under electronic monitoring - or EM - 'may be less likely to reoffend than those released without monitoring', but admitted: 'Some studies found no difference in offending behaviour between those released with EM and those without.' Advertisement The change comes after separate laws giving short-term prisoners automatic early release after serving 40 per cent of their sentence, rather than 50 per cent, amid efforts to cut prison populations. Justice Secretary Angela Constance said tagging was a 'well-established part of our justice system which provides structured and managed transition for individuals being released back into the community'. She added: "There is no automatic right to home detention curfew. "Decisions on home detention release are made by the Scottish Prison Service following careful consideration of each case.'
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Sexual crimes in Scotland rise to second-highest rate in more than 50 years
New Scottish Government figures showed that sexual crimes - which include rape and sexual assault - increased by three per cent between 2023-24. Sexual crimes in Scotland have risen to the second highest rate in over 50 years. New Scottish Government figures showed that sexual crimes - which include rape and sexual assault - increased by three per cent between 2023-24. They went from 14,484 to 14,892, hitting the second highest rate since 1971 - the first year for which comparable. Crimes against society - which includes drug and weapon offences - also went up by three per cent from 61,650 to 63,398 Overall recorded crime went down by less than one per cent, from 299,790 to 299,111. Non-sexual crimes of violence also decreased by less than one per cent, from 71,473 to 71,170. Common assault made up 83 per cent of all non-sexual crimes of violence recorded. Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: 'These figures show that Scotland continues to be safe place to live with reported crime falling by more than half since 1991. This comes on the back of the flagship Scottish Crime and Justice Survey which also showed people feel safer in their communities. 'Violent crime is down significantly in the past 20 years, with serious assaults and homicide levels at record lows. However, we cannot afford to be complacent and I have been consistently clear that any instance of violence is one too many. That is why we are taking a wide range of actions to prevent, reduce and tackle violence, with more than £6 million funding invested over the past three years. 'I am concerned these figures also show a rise in reported sexual crimes. Multiple factors will lie behind this and our action to tackle sexual offending includes increasing confidence in the justice system so more victims come forward, improving support for victims and modernising the law on sexual offences. 'I also recognise the significant harm and disruption caused by retail crime, which is why we have made £3 million available in this year's Budget for Police Scotland to work with the retail sector to help tackle this issue. 'This year we will invest £4.2 billion across the justice system including a record £1.64 billion for policing – an increase of £70 million on 2024-25. 'As part of the Scottish Government's broader package to tackle violence, we have increased funding to the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit from £1.17 million last year to over £1.2 million this year. Projects supporting young people at risk of being drawn into criminal activities, under the Cashback for Communities programme, will receive up to £26 million over the next three financial years.'
Scotsman
13-06-2025
- Scotsman
Active travel a step in the right direction
Foysol Choudhury MSP visits an ELREC bike maintenance session run by Gerry Timoney, cycle officer at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre Active travel has seen an increase in popularity over the years, with more of us wanting to do our part for the environment and our health. Despite the Scottish Government's recent budget cuts of over £30m for active travel, it is more important than ever to continue this momentum. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Encompassing walking, cycling, wheeling and scootering, active travel offers significant benefits not just for our environment but for our health and communities too. It can be defined as travel that promotes physical activity and does not involve fossil fuels. Recognisable health benefits include reducing the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Walking and cycling improve muscles and joints as low-impact exercises and enhance mental health through regular activity outdoors. In Edinburgh alone, active travel prevents 1314 serious long-term health conditions annually. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A less obvious health benefit to active travel is the knock-on effect of decreased congestion and air pollution, which positively impacts our respiratory health and lung capacity. Of course, when talking about active travel, most of us think of its environmental benefits, specifically the vital role it plays in reducing our carbon emissions and reaching net-zero goals. On top of this, active travel also promotes affordable transport options, enhancing connectivity and access for everyone, especially marginalised communities. It contributes to economic growth and vibrant communities, as active travellers explore local areas and spend money locally. In Edinburgh, walking and cycling generates £262.6 million in economic benefits annually. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Unfortunately, there are still barriers preventing active travel, especially for marginalised groups. For instance, only 62 per cent of women feel safe walking at night compared to 89 per cent of men according to a recent Scottish Crime and Justice Survey. Following recent attacks in Edinburgh public parks, several constituents have expressed concerns about their safety. This highlights the urgent need for the government to prioritise active travel to enhance accessibility and safety, benefiting our environment and communities. This is only possible with consistent investment in safe and inclusive infrastructure such as separate cycle paths and pavements to encourage people of all ages and abilities. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad I have been actively advocating for safer active travel with local councils to raise these concerns. I would like to commend the efforts made by the councils in Edinburgh and Lothians to promote active travel and create safe and accessible routes for locals, such as the City Centre West to East Link. As the chair of ELREC, I proudly support this concept as our team has created several projects such as a bicycle maintenance shed and 'Granton goes Greener'. I will continue to advocate in the Scottish Parliament for better walking and cycling infrastructure by promoting the adoption of active travel as the preferred mode of transport, not just for the environment, but for the positive impact it has on our communities.
Scotsman
10-06-2025
- Scotsman
The performance of Police Scotland officers rated in major Scottish Government survey, as sharp fall revealed
Confidence in the police in Scotland has fallen over the past decade. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Fewer than half of Scots believe the police in their local area are doing a good job, according to a major survey. The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey found just 45 per cent said the local force was doing an excellent or good job, compared to 61 per cent a decade ago. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Meanwhile, more than one in ten (13 per cent) said the police were doing a poor or very poor job in 2023/24, which is the latest year covered. A total of 36 per cent thought the police were doing a 'fair' job. Police Scotland officers | PA Since 2012/13, confidence in the police has fallen across all demographic groups covered by the survey. But the largest decline was observed among those aged 60 and over, from 64 per cent in 2012/13 to 43 per cent in 2023/24. READ MORE: Police probe hate crime as Pride flags removed ahead of island parade Most adults expressed confidence in the local police force's capability across various measurements of 'effectiveness,' including their ability to deal with incidents as they occur and solve crimes. However, just 42 per cent had confidence in the police's ability to prevent crime. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Around two in five adults (42 per cent) thought police presence in their local area was 'about right', while half (50 per cent) felt it was insufficient. Elsewhere, the survey found levels of property and violent crime have fallen by more than a third since 2008/09. Violent crime is down 27 per cent, while property crime is down 41 per cent. The proportion of people who feel safe walking alone in their local area after dark increased to three-quarters (75 per cent) from two-thirds (66 per cent). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: 'Crime continues to be down significantly over the long term, though the survey does highlight areas of concern and the need for continued action from governments and justice partners.' Justice secretary Angela Constance. Picture: Lisa Ferguson She added: 'Overall, and importantly, this survey shows most people do not experience any crime and only a very small proportion are affected by violent crime, but I have been consistently clear that any incidence of violence is one too many. 'That is why we are taking forward a wide range of actions to prevent, reduce and tackle violence, funded with more than £6 million invested over the past three years on top of our record funding for police.'
The National
10-06-2025
- The National
1 in 5 Scottish adults a victim of crime last year
The research also found that almost one in 10 people was the victim of a fraud or computer misuse crime, in the first analysis of such offences by the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS). The 2023-24 survey estimates that 1,185,000 crimes happened in Scotland in that time frame. It found that 19.9% of adults were estimated to have experienced at least one crime, and this included property offences (10.3%), violence (2.9%) and fraud and computer misuse (9.5%). READ MORE: SNP hit out at 'white elephants' as Labour commit £14bn to English nuclear plant Fraud and computer misuse are estimated to account for more than two-fifths (44%) of all crimes in the latest year, with almost half of these offences (47%) being bank and credit card fraud. The proportion of adults who experienced at least one property or violent crime increased from 10.0% in 2021-22 to 12.1% in 2023-24. The figures showed that, similar to previous years, the majority of violent incidents were cases of minor assault resulting in no or negligible injury (61%), while instances of serious assault (8%) and robbery (5%) remained relatively uncommon. The report noted that the proportion of violent crime offenders aged under 16 was 31%, the highest level recorded by the SCJS. However, it noted that this increase is based on a single year and said it will be 'important to monitor future surveys to see if this is a new trend.' The survey found that while the volume of property and violent crime combined has increased since 2021-22, it remains at similar levels to the pre-pandemic position in 2019-20 and below that in 2008-09. Scotland's Justice Secretary, Angela Constance, said: 'Crime continues to be down significantly over the long term, though the survey does highlight areas of concern and the need for continued action from governments and justice partners. 'While the levels of crime experienced remain similar to the pre-pandemic position in 2019-20, I am keen to understand what has contributed to the rises in crime identified since the 2021-22 survey. 'I am also concerned about levels of fraud and computer misuse, including bank and credit card fraud, which can cause significant harm to individuals and businesses. 'A range of action will continue to enhance Police Scotland's response to fraud, to raise awareness among the public of the potential risks and to help protect individuals and organisations from cyber criminals. 'Overall, and importantly, this survey shows most people do not experience any crime and only a very small proportion are affected by violent crime, but I have been consistently clear that any incidence of violence is one too many. 'That is why we are taking forward a wide range of actions to prevent, reduce and tackle violence, funded with more than £6 million invested over the past three years on top of our record funding for police.' The survey also found that less than half of adults in Scotland (45%) believed the police in their local area were doing an 'excellent' or 'good' job in 2023-24, down from 61% in 2012-13 and 49% in 2021-22. However, in 2023-24, the majority of adults in Scotland said they felt very or fairly safe walking alone in their local area after dark (75%) and when in their home alone at night (95%). These findings were based on a survey of 4,973 adults (aged 16 or over) living in private households in Scotland with interviews conducted between July 2023 and April 2024.
