SCOTLAND'S prison population has topped the 8,000 mark for the first time, according to new figures.
Ministers unveiled the figures yesterday, using it to underline their plans to remove low-risk offenders from jail and the risk of over-crowding.
Their tactics triggered an immediate row with opposition parties, who said the rising numbers should
not be used as an excuse to empty jails.
The figures show there are now 8,024 people in jail, a new record. That includes 340 low-risk prisoners on home detention curfew, a system of early release monitored by electronic tag.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the Government's response was to continue to jail serious offenders while allowing those guilty of petty crimes to be dealt with outside the prison system.
He said: "I believe less serious offenders should be paying back their debts to society – not adding to society's bill for their bed and board. Tough community punishments will protect the public, help offenders turn their lives around and involve some payback to communities they have harmed."
He added: "Let me be very clear, there is no suggestion that dangerous criminals and those who commit serious offences will be getting off lightly – quite the reverse. We expect violent, sexual and serious and organised criminals to be punished and the public protected."
Serious offenders were often denied the treatment they needed to stop them reoffending because of the presence of prisoners serving short sentences for low level crimes, said MacAskill.
But Bill Aitken, the Conservative justice spokesman, said: "Mr MacAskill is getting more and more desperate in trying to sell this line that there are any prisoners who could be dealt with in any other way. They are either serious offenders or offenders with previous convictions who do not pay fines or do community service, so what are his alternatives?
"We need another prison in central Scotland and that should be provided."
Labour's spokesman on community safety, Paul Martin, said: "Labour supports efforts to stop the revolving door of reoffending and in turn reduce the prison population, however this should not be at the expense of public safety. The SNP plans to end six-month sentences would put some criminals on our streets that should for reasons of public safety be locked up. including repeat offenders and those convicted of serious assault."
