Justice reform 'too slow', MSPs tell Scottish Government

Criminal justice reform in Scotland has been "too slow" and there is a "stark gap" in funding between the cash justice bodies want and the sum they may be given for next year, MSPs have said.

In its pre-budget scrutiny, the Scottish Parliament's Criminal Justice Committee has said "the wholesale reform of the sector which is required can only be achieved by adopting a new strategy" moves away from "short-term fixes of a few years or a single parliamentary term".

It calls for multi-year funding cycles instead and highlighted "inefficiencies", such as problems with court citations for police or the lack of mental health services which leaves officers to support those in crisis.

Audrey Nicoll, convenor of the cross-party panel, said: "Right across the sector we are seeing increasing cost pressures and it's clear there is a stark gap between what these organisations say the need for 2025-26 and what they may be given.

"Last year we emphasised the need for change in how the Scottish Government fund and support the justice sector and that the status quo could not continue. However, progress still needs to be made to implement the wholesale reform required, which takes the long-term view."

The comments coincide with the publication of the National Mid-Year Independent Prison Monitoring Report, which covers April to September this year.

It raises "significant concern regarding the remand population and the prevalence of short sentences under 12 months".

And, on overcrowding, it said: "It is unconscionable that in 2024, prisoners are still being asked to share cells that Victorian society deemed fit for only one person."

Last week the Scottish Parliament voted for a bill allowing the early release of certain prisoners after the completion of 40 per cent of their custodial sentence. 

The emergency legislation aims to ease pressures on the prison service and could see up to 390 people released within that time frame.

Scotland's jail population has been higher than 8,200 since September, affecting services.

Almost 480 inmates were released in the summer under a previous early exit scheme, with nearly 60 of that number known to have reoffended. 

MSPs will return to vote on the current bill tomorrow. Justice secretary Angela Constance said: "The changes made in this bill are absolutely critical to relieve pressure on the prison estate and address the current crisis."