Amid soaring levels of male violence, SNP must ditch its unconscionable early release plan
Amid a deeply alarming surge in violence against women, the SNP cannot send a signal that Scotland is soft on such crimes
Prisons in Scotland and England are under pressure because of over-crowding and both governments have, regrettably, decided they have no option but to introduce early release schemes. This should never have been necessary, but needs must, or so it seems.
However, while Andy Burnham has rightly decided to exclude violent rapists from the scheme south of the Border, the SNP, inexplicably, is considering ending the current exemption of sexual offenders and domestic abusers from Scotland’s release programmes.
New figures showing cases of rape and attempted rape have risen by more than 30 per cent and domestic abuse has soared by more than 80 per cent over the last four years must surely see this appalling idea ruled out.
READ MORE: SNP urged to follow Burnham and exempt rapists from early release amid fears 'public safety at risk'
Gray ‘extremely concerned’
The first duty of any government is to keep its citizens safe. The murders of Stacy Mair and Vikki Soloman in July, almost certainly by their partners who were both later found dead, were horrifying examples of male violence.
It would be utterly unconscionable if, in the midst of what is a deeply alarming surge in violence against women, the SNP was to send a signal that the justice system is soft on such crimes. And, quite obviously, releasing these dangerous individuals onto the streets would increase the risks to their victims and others.
SNP Justice Secretary Neil Gray said he was “extremely concerned” by the figures, but offered little in the way of reassurance that he is taking the situation as seriously as he should be.
‘Stop this madness’
Scottish Conservative justice spokesman, Stephen Kerr, warned criminals were “being given more and more reasons to believe there are few consequences for their actions”. On the SNP’s plans to start freeing sexual offenders and domestic abusers early, he added: “[Gray] must stop this madness immediately.”
In recent years, Scotland has seen a rise of sexism, the spread of the toxic ‘manosphere’ ideology, and, in our schools, increasing levels of violence, abuse and disrespect directed at female teachers in particular.
The new crime figures suggest all this is leading to a serious breakdown of law and order. Yet when Scotland needs genuine leadership, the SNP offer little more than excuses and platitudes.