Dear Editor
Neil Gray, the Scottish Justice Secretary, has pledged to ‘stop people entering prison’ and ‘expand community sentencing’. His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, Sara Snell, said that prisoners’ rights were being violated because of overcrowding. What about the rights of those who have suffered at the hands of criminals? The people of Scotland want tougher sentences. Why should the Scottish Parliament be able to overrule a judge and reduce the sentence of prisoners serving less than four years? Because of overcrowding in prisons the Scottish Government passed a Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Act in 2025 and sentences were reduced by 60 per cent.
There are better ways to reduce the prison numbers. Frighten would-be criminals by announcing that there will be no more reduction in sentencing terms and if a judge gives them four years they serve every day. Politicians should have no mandate to reduce that sentence. Overcrowding? No need to build yet more prisons especially since the new HMP Highland will cost £209million and only hold 200 prisoners. Put the criminals in ships anchored out in stormy seas.
Clark Cross
Linlithgow
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