The SNP have been accused of “rewarding bad behaviour” after it emerged that 60 of the most recent batch of inmates freed early had broken prison rules.
Figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives, via a Freedom of Information request, show that around one in seven of the 390 inmates to benefit from the Nationalists’ controversial early-release programme had breached jail regulations.
The Scottish Prison Service did not specify the nature of the rule-breaking, but common breaches of discipline recorded in their annual report include endangering the health and safety of others, possessing an unauthorised article or consuming a prohibited substance.
Shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr said the figures were “the latest slap in the face” to crime victims by a soft-touch SNP Government. He added that they were pandering to criminals again because of ministers’ failure to build new jails to house the prison population.
The stats come on the back of a recent poll showing that the public is opposed to the early-release programme, which allows inmates sentenced to less than four years to be freed after serving just 40 per cent of their prison term.
Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr said: “Scots will be furious to learn that inmates who wilfully broke prison rules are being freed by the SNP after serving less than half of their sentence.
“The Nationalists’ early-release plan is actively rewarding bad behaviour by prisoners.
“No wonder criminals freed on to the streets early were smirking for the waiting cameras, when they know they can do no wrong in the SNP’s eyes.
“As well as risking public safety, this is the latest slap in the face to victims from a soft-touch SNP Government that is forever pandering to offenders.
“Ministers try to justify early release on the grounds of limited prison capacity – but that issue stems from their abject failure to deliver new jails in Glasgow and the Highlands on time and on budget.”
Notes to editors
390 prisoners were freed early across Scotland in the most recent stage of the Scottish Government’s early-release programme. Emergency legislation was passed last year which allows eligible inmates sentenced to less than four years to be freed after 40% of their term, rather than 50%. (BBC News, 18 February 2025, link).
One in seven prisoners being released early broke prison rules whilst behind bars. Of the 390 being released over a six-week period starting in mid-February, 60 broke SPS rules whilst imprisoned. (Scottish Conservative FOI, 26 March 2025, Available on Request).
Whilst the SPS did not specify what rules had been breached, they record breaches of discipline in their annual report. In 2023-24, there were 7,206 incidences of possession of an unauthorised/prohibited article/quantity of an article, 4,771 incidences of intentionally or recklessly endangering the health or personal safety of others and 3,628 incidences of consuming/taking/injecting/inhaling or concealing an unauthorised or prohibited article. (SPS Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24, 11 September 2024, link).
Most Scots oppose the early release of prisoners to deal with overcrowding. A new poll by 1919 Magazine found that 50% of Scots oppose the policy – including nearly 30% of respondents who said they are ‘strongly’ opposed. Only 28% of people surveyed said they were in favour of the policy. (STV News, 1 April 2025, link).