Further early release of prisoners 'necessary' with 10 Scots jails at 'red risk status'

Justice Secretary Angela Constance has announced further plans for the emergency release of prisoners in a bid to ease overcrowding in Scotland’s jails.

With 8,363 inmates locked up across Scotland , she said there is now a “critical risk” to the “continued safe and effective operation” of the prison estate.

Ms Constance said 10 of Scotland’s 17 jails are operating either at full capacity or above – with 10 jails at “red risk status”. She said there is therefore an “urgent need to reduce the current population”.

To achieve this, she is seeking Holyrood’s approval “to make regulations to enable the release of some prisoners early” in response to the “emergency situation”.

Ms Constance said while recorded crime is now 39% lower than it was in 2006-07, Scotland continues “to s