SENIOR POLICEMAN BACKS END TO SHORT SENTENCES

SENIOR POLICEMAN BACKS END TO SHORT SENTENCES

WARNING SHORT SENTENCES CAN INCREASE CRIME

Lothian and Borders Chief Constable David Strang has backed the SNP Government’s plans to replace short jail sentences with effective community punishments.

In an interview with The Times Chief Constable Strang said;

“The evidence is that sending people to prison for a short time does little to reduce offending in the long term. In fact there is an argument that it is likely to lead to increased offending, partly because the prison service says there is little it can do with someone who is only in for a few weeks.”

Mr Strang also highlighted the role of alcohol in offending saying “On a daily basis in terms of the calls we receive, alcohol is by far the greatest cause of incidence of crime: crime of violence, drink-driving, disorder. If you take a more thoughtful approach alcohol causes a lot of problems”

SNP MSP for Livingston and Justice Committee member Angela Constance welcomed Mr Strang’s comments saying;

“Chief Constable Strang is right. It is vital we tackle re-offending and offending behaviour, not simply lock people up for a few weeks or months so they can come out and offend again.

“Community sentences ensure people face up to their actions, take responsibility and repay our communities for the damage they have done.

“These proposals have the support of the police, of victims organisations and of those that work with offenders.

“It is time opposition parties faced up to the fact that short sentences are part of the problem, not the answer. Instead of making political points it is time we faced facts and got on with the job of preventing crime not just locking people up.

“Community sentences and restorative justice offer a better way of dealing with a large number of offenders to stop offending behaviour and cut crime in our communities.”