Bail breaches spark fierce debate

The number of bail offences in Scotland has risen sharply

The number of people accused of offences breaching bail in two of Scotland's major police force areas has tripled in five years, figures show.

Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish National Party's Holyrood leader, accused the first minister of putting the public at risk by failing to tackle the problem.

The number of breaches in Strathclyde and Lothian and Borders rose from 1,107 in 1999 to 3,604 in 2004.

Jack McConnell said plans to tighten the bail system would be revealed soon.

During First Minister's Question Time, Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Executive had been slow to react to the increase in bail offences.

She said: "Isn't it the case that this is a problem that is not new?

Why has the first minister taken so long to deal with this blatant and growing disregard for the law? Nicola Sturgeon SNP Holyrood leader

"It has been six years in the making and the reason that it has got so out of control is that this executive and this first minister have turned a blind eye for far too long."

Commenting on the figures, Ms Sturgeon said: "This is a three-fold increase. Why has the first minister taken so long to act, to deal with this blatant and growing disregard for the law?"

Mr McConnell said he hoped Ms Sturgeon would be "big enough and brave enough" to welcome and support the executive's reforms when they were announced.

"We have anti-social behaviour laws that were fought tooth and nail by the SNP," he added.

"They were dragged into vote form at the end of that debate but you were so against it in the beginning.

System shake-up

"We will see, in the course of the next few days, a comprehensive programme announced by the justice minister that will not only ensure that we have a tightening of the availability of bail in Scotland.

"We also have a far more effective system of monitoring those who are out on bail, the conditions they have to apply and what happens to them if they breach those conditions."

David McLetchie: European legislation could affect bail system

Scottish Conservative leader David McLetchie said the European Convention on Human Rights could have implications for the executive's bail and remand proposals.

Mr McLetchie referred to the recent conviction of a man in Orkney for committing two rapes - the second carried out while on bail awaiting trial for the first.

A condition banning the then accused from remaining there pending the trial had also been overturned - before he committed the second rape - when his lawyer claimed this would breach his human rights, he added.

"The only effective way to protect the public in these situations is to ensure that those who are charged with serious offences of that nature and have previous convictions are remanded in jail," Mr McLetchie told MSPs.