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| Prison population increases by 6% | Prison population increases by 6% |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Scotland's prison population has continued to rise, according to new national statistics. | Scotland's prison population has continued to rise, according to new national statistics. |
| The figures showed the average daily prison population in the year to March was 7,835, up by 6% on the previous year and 31% over the past 10 years. | The figures showed the average daily prison population in the year to March was 7,835, up by 6% on the previous year and 31% over the past 10 years. |
| Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said prison would always be the right punishment for those involved in serious crime. | Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said prison would always be the right punishment for those involved in serious crime. |
| But he said simply building more prisons was not the answer. | But he said simply building more prisons was not the answer. |
| Scotland's chief statistician revealed that the majority of the prison population were sentenced prisoners. | Scotland's chief statistician revealed that the majority of the prison population were sentenced prisoners. |
| The most recent average daily figure for prisoners held on remand was 1,678 for the year from April 2008 to the end of March. | The most recent average daily figure for prisoners held on remand was 1,678 for the year from April 2008 to the end of March. |
| This was an increase of 8% over the previous year's figure of 1,560, indicating an on-going rising trend in the remand population. | This was an increase of 8% over the previous year's figure of 1,560, indicating an on-going rising trend in the remand population. |
| On 30 June 2008, the crime category with the largest population of sentenced prisoners was non-sexual violent crime (37%), followed by drugs-related crimes (14%). | On 30 June 2008, the crime category with the largest population of sentenced prisoners was non-sexual violent crime (37%), followed by drugs-related crimes (14%). |
| The 2008-09 average daily female prison population was 413, an 11% increase from 371 in 2007-08. | The 2008-09 average daily female prison population was 413, an 11% increase from 371 in 2007-08. |
| The female prison population has shown a disproportionate increase of 97% over the past 10 years. | The female prison population has shown a disproportionate increase of 97% over the past 10 years. |
| Reconviction statistics published earlier this year show just how many offenders are going inside for a short period of time, coming out to reoffend and then going back inside Kenny MacAskillJustice Secretary | Reconviction statistics published earlier this year show just how many offenders are going inside for a short period of time, coming out to reoffend and then going back inside Kenny MacAskillJustice Secretary |
| The number of prisoners serving sentences of six months or less has decreased, the statistics said. | The number of prisoners serving sentences of six months or less has decreased, the statistics said. |
| Speaking during a visit to HMP Inverness, Mr MacAskill said: "Prison, if necessary for a long time, will always be the right punishment for those involved in serious crime and those who are a danger to our communities. | Speaking during a visit to HMP Inverness, Mr MacAskill said: "Prison, if necessary for a long time, will always be the right punishment for those involved in serious crime and those who are a danger to our communities. |
| "That is why we are investing £120m each year in our prison estate, including the building of three new prisons. | "That is why we are investing £120m each year in our prison estate, including the building of three new prisons. |
| "But we cannot and will not build even more prisons to fill them with those for whom prison is not the right answer." | "But we cannot and will not build even more prisons to fill them with those for whom prison is not the right answer." |
| He said short sentences of six months or less did nothing to stop offending behaviour. | He said short sentences of six months or less did nothing to stop offending behaviour. |
| "Reconviction statistics published earlier this year show just how many offenders are going inside for a short period of time, coming out to reoffend, and then going back inside," he added. | "Reconviction statistics published earlier this year show just how many offenders are going inside for a short period of time, coming out to reoffend, and then going back inside," he added. |
| "We need to close that revolving door of reoffending. | "We need to close that revolving door of reoffending. |
| "And to do that we need to tackle the underlying causes of crime - drink, drugs and deprivation." | "And to do that we need to tackle the underlying causes of crime - drink, drugs and deprivation." |
| In response to the increase in the prison population, John Lamont, the Conservative spokesman on community safety said: | |
| "Prison numbers will only be properly cut when crime is cut. | |
| "Prison serves four important functions: to deter criminals, to protect the public, to punish and to rehabilitate. | |
| "All four matter and we have to have the political will to make prison work. | |
| He said that in the SNP's Scotland, people have to be very unlucky to end up in jail. | |
| He added: "The prime duty of government is to protect the public. The SNP is guilty of a dereliction of that duty." |