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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Women prisoner numbers 'shameful' | Women prisoner numbers 'shameful' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Scotland's rising female prison population has been branded "shameful" by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill. | Scotland's rising female prison population has been branded "shameful" by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill. |
| His comments came after figures revealed Scotland's prison population had hit a record high. | His comments came after figures revealed Scotland's prison population had hit a record high. |
| The Scottish Prison service (SPS) said there were now 7,609 people behind bars, including 393 women. | The Scottish Prison service (SPS) said there were now 7,609 people behind bars, including 393 women. |
| Mr MacAskill met staff and inmates at Scotland's female prison, HMP Cornton Vale, on a visit to see how the jail is coping with overcrowding issues. | |
| Speaking ahead of his visit, Mr MacAskill hit out at the 90% rise in the women's prison population between 1997 and 2007. | Speaking ahead of his visit, Mr MacAskill hit out at the 90% rise in the women's prison population between 1997 and 2007. |
| He told on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "It's quite shameful in Scotland. It goes across both genders but clearly it's exacerbated amongst the female population." | He told on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "It's quite shameful in Scotland. It goes across both genders but clearly it's exacerbated amongst the female population." |
| We cannot go on as we are because our prisons are going to burst Kenny MacAskillJustice Secretary | We cannot go on as we are because our prisons are going to burst Kenny MacAskillJustice Secretary |
| The number of women in custody is currently 11% above the average population of 353 for 2006/07. | The number of women in custody is currently 11% above the average population of 353 for 2006/07. |
| The justice secretary admitted that too many offenders were being sent to Scotland's jails, which are "bursting at the seams." | The justice secretary admitted that too many offenders were being sent to Scotland's jails, which are "bursting at the seams." |
| He added: "We are loading up our prisons, whether it's Cornton Vale or Barlinnie, with not just bad people who need to be in prison, but sad people who need to be treated and helped. | He added: "We are loading up our prisons, whether it's Cornton Vale or Barlinnie, with not just bad people who need to be in prison, but sad people who need to be treated and helped. |
| "We've inherited record figures and they're continuing to rise and that's why it's my obligation as the cabinet secretary for justice to try and draw a line in the sand. | "We've inherited record figures and they're continuing to rise and that's why it's my obligation as the cabinet secretary for justice to try and draw a line in the sand. |
| "We cannot go on as we are because our prisons are going to burst." | "We cannot go on as we are because our prisons are going to burst." |
| SPS figures showed that on Friday there were a record 7,609 people in Scotland's jails. | SPS figures showed that on Friday there were a record 7,609 people in Scotland's jails. |
| 'Petty crimes' | 'Petty crimes' |
| Since 1991, Scotland has seen its average daily prison population increase by 51.6%. | Since 1991, Scotland has seen its average daily prison population increase by 51.6%. |
| Mr MacAskill said Scotland was in a "perverse situation" where offending had gone down, but the prison population had reached record levels. | Mr MacAskill said Scotland was in a "perverse situation" where offending had gone down, but the prison population had reached record levels. |
| He said there was a huge problem with "churn" - where people were regularly receiving short sentences for petty crimes. | He said there was a huge problem with "churn" - where people were regularly receiving short sentences for petty crimes. |
| Mr MacAskill said there were about 14,000 cases of sentences under six months every year. | Mr MacAskill said there were about 14,000 cases of sentences under six months every year. |
| In many cases the "fundamental problem" such as alcohol, mental health issues or drugs was what needed to be addressed, he added. | In many cases the "fundamental problem" such as alcohol, mental health issues or drugs was what needed to be addressed, he added. |