Criminals who have attacked officers should not get early release, say police

Justice Secretary Angela Constance is being urged to bar inmates with convictions for violence against the police from being considered for early release.

The Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (Asps) made the plea to Ms Constance as the latest phase of releases, designed to ease pressure on Scotland’s overcrowded jails, gets under way.

While some of those sentenced to jail terms of four years or less are being freed early, the Justice Secretary has been clear that those with convictions for domestic abuse or sex offences will not be included.

Now Asps wants Ms Constance to extend that to include those offenders found to have used violence towards police officers.

Asps president, Chief Superintendent Rob Hay, said doing this would be a “positive move” by the Scottish Government which would show police “that they are being supported”.

But, adding that the government had failed to tell them how many offenders in this category could be released, he claimed there is an “apathy” in the criminal justice system towards assaults on police.

Mr Hay said that across Scotland there are nearly 20 assaults a day on police officers – adding that 90% of all assaults recorded against emergency services workers are against the police.

He has vowed to raise the issue of early release when he meets the Justice Secretary in the next few days.

Mr Hay said: “I am meeting with Angela Constance, this week, and am looking forward to having a frank discussion, because we don’t think the Scottish Government has got this right.”

With ministers freeing some offenders early to relieve the pressure inside jails he argued: “The Government has made an exception for domestic abusers and sex offenders, and will not be releasing them early from prison.

“We feel very strongly that people who use violence against police officers are another category that shouldn’t be eligible for early release.

“Adding them to the exceptions list would be a positive move from the Government and send the message to Scottish police officers that they are being supported.”

Asps, together with the Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, has launched a campaign titled, Assault The Police? No Early Release.

Mr Hay added that the authorities had been “asked for the numbers of offenders who could be released in this way” but said they had not received an answer.

And he claimed: “The fact that we don’t have these figures is a symptom of the apathy that exists in the criminal justice system towards assaults on police officers.”

Mr Hay continued: “The Scottish public would expect people to be in prison when they’ve committed violent offences, and among those are people who have the determination and audacity to attack Scottish police officers.”

He said: “Police officers accept the risk of violence that comes with their work, but it doesn’t mean we should tolerate it. We should always challenge the fact that people are violent towards police officers; it shouldn’t be normalised.”

Ms Constance stressed that “attacks on police officers and staff are absolutely despicable”, adding that she was “of course concerned to see any increase in such assaults”.

The Justice Secretary added: “I understand concerns from victims, including any police officers who have been assaulted, about the emergency release proposals.

“This is not a decision I have taken lightly but it is necessary to tackle overcrowding and keep prison staff safe.

“Parliament agreed earlier this month on the criteria for those eligible for emergency release

“Public safety remains my paramount concern.

“Only individuals serving short sentences of under four years who are already due for release within six months will be eligible and prison governors will have a veto on an eligible person’s release if they believe they pose an immediate risk to specific individuals or groups.”