Early Christmas present for Scotland's prisoners

December 22nd, 2008

It is the season of good will to all men and I see the Scottish Government are getting into the spirit of things this week.

They announced they are to press ahead with plans to do away with short-term jail sentences as a way of reducing our prison population.

For all the criminals, it must be Christmas come early as they get a free pass out of jail.

Despite very real public fears, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill is determined that criminals should get community sentences rather than prison time.

Of course, rehabilitation is vital if we are to avoid creating new victims when prisoners are released.

But I believe that we will not cut crime by cutting the prison population, we will cut the prison population by cutting crime.

Re-offending is a difficult issue but the starting point should not be releasing people from our prisons.

Bringing down the prison numbers should be a consequence of dealing effectively with re-offending.

Locking up housebreakers, knife carriers and violent criminals might not solve the world’s ills.

But it does give our communities respite from the people who are plaguing their lives and punishes them for their actions.

Mr MacAskill talks about prison not being a place for ‘daft laddies’ despite the misery they bring to their victims.

While we may be forced to live side-by-side with MacAskill’s daft laddies under his plans, we certainly won’t put up with one running our courts and prisons.