Nearly 60 criminals let out early in Scotland under an emergency release programme have already reoffended and have been jailed again.
Some 477 inmates were released over the summer to tackle overcrowding – but 57 have committed crimes again and are back behind bars, with Scottish First Minister John Swinney admitting the scheme had not “solved the situation”.
A Scottish Prison Service (SPS) spokesman said: “We have been open and transparent throughout, publishing the number of individuals released at each stage, followed by a series of breakdowns.
“The latest publication on returns to custody continues this approach.”
In September, Swinney had told the Scottish Parliament the country “still faced a serious situation”
PA
In September, Swinney had told the Scottish Parliament: “We still face a serious situation, and I fully expect the justice secretary to have to come back to Parliament to brief Parliament about the current situation.
“Because although the release of 477 prisoners during June and July as part of the early release scheme has helped, it has not solved the situation.
“I suspect that will come back to Parliament in due course and we are considering the options that are available there.”
More to follow…