Rise in prisoners on parole

More prisoners applied for parole

The number of prisoners released on parole last year has risen by almost a quarter, it has emerged.

Among these were 59 life prisoners, many released on licence under new arrangements in compliance with European human rights legislation.

The Parole Board for Scotland said parole was recommended for 417 prisoners in 2002, up from 340 in 2001.

A total of 691 inmates were considered for parole last year and this was an increase on 2001 when 647 cases went before the board.

Since 2001, all prisoners sentenced to a mandatory life term for murder have had a punishment period fixed, which is the minimum time they must serve before they can apply for parole.

An increase in the number of parole applications largely reflects the number of lifers who had served considerably more than the punishment part set by the court.

The number of life prisoners released on licence during 2002 is significantly higher than in previous years

Dr Jim McManus
Parole board chairman

The figures showed that 59 life prisoners were eligible for released under the Convention Rights (Compliance) (Scotland) Act.)

The chairman of the parole board, Dr Jim McManus, said: "This was the first full year of the board working under the procedures introduced by the Convention Rights (Compliance) (Scotland) Act 2001.

"Under these provisions, every life sentence prisoner is entitled to have a Tribunal of the Board consider the case for release as soon as the punishment part of the sentence, imposed by the trial judge, has been served.

"Many of the cases referred to us concerned prisoners who had served considerably more than the punishment part set by the court which meant that we had to focus very strongly on the risk they might pose on release.

"As a result of this the number of life prisoners released on licence during 2002 is significantly higher than in previous years."

Annabel Goldie: Attacked law change

Dr McManus said the risk to the public posed by those who were released from prison was fully investigated.

He pointed out that the number of prisoners on fixed term sentences who were released on parole and subsequently recalled to jail had also increased.

This, he said, may reflect improved monitoring of prisoners released back into the community.

The Scottish Tories voiced serious concern about the number of life prisoners granted parole.

'Most alarming'

Justice spokeswoman Annabel Goldie said: "It is most alarming to note that due to the introduction of ECHR the number of life prisoners allowed back into our communities has more than doubled.

"Once again we are seeing the potentially damaging effects of the government's decision to incorporate the European Convention of Human Rights directly into Scots Law.

"This move has thrown our justice system into chaos time and again."

The Scottish National Party's justice spokeswoman, Nicola Sturgeon described the figures as "deeply alarming".

These figures show that more dangerous criminals are being released earlier than ever before

Nicola Sturgeon MSP

She said: "Day in day out we have ministers on our televisions telling us they are getting tough on crime.

"Yet these figures show that more dangerous criminals are being released earlier than ever before."

The MSP said that when the previous set of record figures was released last year, the Parole Board said it was due to greater success rates in preventing re-offending.

Ms Sturgeon added: "But only a few weeks ago Jack McConnell said that re-offending was the most serious problem facing the criminal justice system.

"With violent crime at record levels the government has to accept that it and the Parole Board are playing a direct role in the increase in crime by continuing to let violent criminals out of jail early."