New statistics have revealed that the number of criminals no longer being prosecuted for their crimes has reached a record high – with 2,230 diversions from prosecution commencing in 2020-21.
And these figures, published today, cover the period before the SNP Government effectively decriminalised class A drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine – meaning these figures will increase over time.
The report also reveals that community sentences are becoming easier for criminals to complete, because fewer than ever of them - just 57.6% - now contain an element of unpaid work.
This coincides with the SNP Government writing off more than 262,000 hours of unpaid work that criminals were due to carry out in January 2021.
The Scottish Conservatives have slammed the SNP for failing to create a community justice system that works for the victims of crime.
Scottish Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Jamie Greene MSP, said: “These figures lay bare the failings at the heart of the SNP’s soft-touch justice approach.
“There are record numbers of people being diverted from prosecution in Scotland, meaning these criminals are essentially getting away with their crimes and escaping punishment.
“Yet even when offenders are given community sentences, they’re easier to complete than ever with nearly half not containing any element of unpaid work.
“Furthermore, the SNP shamelessly wrote off hundreds of thousands of hours of uncompleted unpaid work back in January 2021.
“All of this is contributing to a justice system that is stacked in favour of criminals, with victims an afterthought. The Scottish Conservatives would put victims at the heart of the justice system with our Victims Law.”
Notes
Diversions from prosecution have reached a record high. In 2020-21, there were 2,230 diversions from prosecution recorded in Scotland meaning that the offenders involved wouldn’t have received any punishment for the crime they’d committed. (Scottish Government, Criminal Justice Social Work Statistics 2020-21, 31 January 2022, Table 1, link).
Only 57.6% of criminals given community sentences have to carry out unpaid work. In 2020-21, just 57.6% of Community Payback Orders included a requirement to complete unpaid work. This is the lowest proportion on record. (Scottish Government, Criminal Justice Social Work Statistics 2020-21, 31 January 2022, Table 9, link).
The SNP have written off more than a quarter of a million hours-worth of unpaid community work given to criminals. There was a total cut of 262,153 hours to unpaid work hours issued as part of Community Payback Orders, a community disposal designed to be an alternative to prison. Glasgow and Fife Councils were subject to the biggest cut. (Press and Journal, 30 August 2021, link).
The SNP Government effectively decriminalised class A drugs. In a statement to Parliament entitled diversion from prosecution, the Lord Advocate announced those caught with class A drugs would be given just a Recorded Police Warning – meaning they will not be prosecuted. (Official Report, 22 September 2021, link).