Scottish Labour wants to see stronger and safer communities in Scotland.

We want to see fair rules and fair chances for all. People must have confidence in their justice system, to know it is fair to all and that the punishment will fit the crime. Richard Baker MSP (pictured) is the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice and leads our team in this area.

Scotland is now at risk

The SNP’s approach to tackling crime in Scotland is chaotic. It was easy for the Nationalist administration to come into power promising easy solutions. It is now clear that they are unwilling to make the hard choices necessary to tackle these challenges and stand up for the people of Scotland.

The SNP do not seem to accept that improved policing techniques, new technology (DNA profiling and CCTV) and increased police numbers (up 1,500 under Labour) have led to improved detection rates, and therefore an increased prison population. This means we need an increased prison capacity.

Before the SNP came into office, Scottish Labour made clear that we would not shy away from building the prisons needed to ensure public safety, punish serious and persistent offenders and to provide respite to communities. In contrast the SNP have stalled and time wasted, preferring to release prisoners issued with a six month sentence or less.

Labour passed legislation to end automatic early release, something the SNP government has failed to implement. This has caused further, unnecessary risk to our communities and is symptomatic of the SNP’s complacency when tackling crime in Scotland.

In relation to domestic abuse and violence against women, the SNP government has abdicated responsibility on this matter, and failed to provide sufficient funding to local government to ensure that the needs of victims are being met. While Labour authorities continue to meet these commitments, others have turned their backs.

The SNP want to abolish six-month prison sentences. These plans would mean 65% of knife criminals, who would have gone to prison, will now escape a jail sentence. Proposal to abolish sentences of six months or less come at a time where breaches of community sentences are at record levels, and there is a shortage of social workers in Scotland.

We believe in effective and meaningful community sentences and expanded their use when we led in the Scottish Parliament. The SNP are failing with the community sentence regime currently in operation. There has been a 14% increase in breaches of Community Service Orders, with the social work staff needed to supervise these criminals in the community reduced by 500 in the last 18 months. Organisations that administer community sentences are having their funding slashed under the SNP.

The SNP have broken their manifesto promise to increase spending on drug rehabilitation by 20%, and are losing the battle against drugs: this year alone, 12, 562 new problem drugs users were recorded. Criminal justice social work statistics for 2007/08 show a reduction of 14% in the number of Drug Treatment and Testing Orders, despite the fact that the orders are shown to work in reducing crime and tackling re-offending.

Supporting victims of crime

We want to see more awareness given to the needs and wishes of those who have been affected by crime. Scottish Labour is behind the creation of a victim’s commissioner in Scotland, designed with the ability to investigate, challenge and raise awareness of issues that affect victims of crime and understand the impact on the individual and on communities.

Effective sentencing

The core purpose of our justice system must be to protect the communities and people of Scotland. Any changes to the way we deal with offenders must be driven by that goal and no other. We are always keen to drive down re-offending and open to exploring new sentencing options that achieve that.

Tackling substance misuse

Scottish Labour recognises that the relationship between alcohol, drugs and violence represents a huge challenge for society, and also places an enormous burden on us in our families, our homes and our communities. We know that more action is needed to tackle alcohol and substance misuse and we will support bold action to tackle this problem, such as additional restrictions on the sale of alcohol, and action to stifle drug dealers at the highest level.

Tackling the culture of violence

Knife crime disproportionately affects Scotland more than anywhere else in the UK. Tough and decisive action is required. Labour have called repeatedly on the SNP to hold a national knife amnesty – calls which so far have been ignored. Labour has also brought forward proposals for mandatory custodial sentences for all knife criminals. Our message is simple. Carry a knife, go to jail.

We have to examine ideas on how to eradicate domestic abuse and violence against women. In particular, we want to highlight that substance misuse is not the only factor and certainly not a mitigating factor in domestic violence. Violence in the home is totally unacceptable and it has a devastating impact on victims and their families. Women cannot be allowed to suffer in silence. We believe that much more needs to be done to tackle crime motivated by sectarianism, racism and religious hatred.
 

For more information, you can contact Richard Baker on richard.baker@scottish.parliament.uk or call his office on 0131 3485916.