PRISONER SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS ROLE OF ALCOHOL IN CRIME

PRISONER SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS ROLE OF ALCOHOL IN CRIME

TIME TO STOP PARTY POLITICS OVER MINIMUM PRICING

Commenting on the results of a survey by the Scottish Prison Service which has revealed that half of all inmates in Scotland's prisons said they were drunk at the time of their offence, SNP MSP and Health Committee member Michael Matheson said it only added weight to the argument that a wide range of measures, such as minimum pricing, were required to address the problems arising from alcohol misuse.

The survey was published on the same day as official statistics show that that the average daily prison population will increase from 8,100 in 2009-10, to 9,600 by 2018-19.

Commenting Mr Matheson said:

“This survey, coming on the day that statistics how much the prison population is rising, demonstrate why we need to take urgent action on alcohol misuse and need to keep open all options – including minimum pricing.

“That alcohol plays such a role in criminality surely must focus the mind of the opposition parties. It is not only costing Scotland millions in terms of health but also to pay for the associated criminal activities as well.

"There is a very real connection between the ridiculously cheap price of alcohol and criminal behaviour. We urgently need the option of minimum pricing to address this scourge.

"It's time for the opposition to face up to these problems society is facing and to forget their resistance to minimum pricing – which is nothing more than cheap and irresponsible party politics.

"There are many in the opposition parties who support minimum pricing and I hope they will now stop listening to supermarkets and alcohol lobbyists and start listening to them.

"It is utterly ridiculous that we will be going into the Westminster election with Labour, LibDems and Tories all proposing to target the price of alcohol in England and Wales whilst refusing to vote for the same measures in Scotland. Today’s survey and prison statistics will only draw attention to their failure to address what is obviously a major issue affecting safety on Scotland’s streets."