Common Sense on justice – Scottish Conservatives will bring back short sentences

Scottish Conservatives will bring back short sentences, which were abolished by the SNP and Lib Dems in the last parliament.

Speaking from outside Barlinnie Prison – where she was joined by top ranked Glasgow candidate Ruth Davidson – Annabel Goldie, Scottish Conservative Leader, said:

"It can be no coincidence that crime is falling at a time when police numbers are at record highs – thanks to Scottish Conservatives forcing 1000 extra police on the SNP Government as a budget concession.

"However we must not undo this hard won achievement, which is why it was so wrong for the SNP and Lib Dems to press ahead with plans to scrap short sentences.

"It has been clear for some time the much-heralded 'community-based alternatives to prison' idea has severe flaws, as figures published last December showed that in almost two thirds of local authorities, community sentences aren't starting in time. So why then are we putting more strain on this system by emptying Scotland's jails?

"We want community-based sentences to be tough, fast and effective. But it is wrong to disregard prison. That is why we will restore custodial sentences of three months or less as an option, backed up with proper rehabilitation that starts in jail. You don't cut crime by cutting the prison population, you cut the prison population by cutting crime.

"It is common sense to have honesty in sentencing and that is what Scottish Conservatives will do. Every voter in every seat in every region of Scotland can use the peach ballot paper to vote for these common sense policies on May 5th."

Page 18 of Common Sense for Scotland states: "We must restore public confidence in our justice system. So we will re-introduce prison sentences of less than three months, so that custody can be used instead of community service where appropriate. However, we will also offer tougher community sentences that the courts and the public have confidence in: offenders will carry out meaningful jobs like litter picking, snow shovelling and beach cleaning, wearing a high-visibility uniform."

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