WAVE OF MONKLANDS KNIFE VICTIMS SHOWS HOW 'CRAZY' SNP PRISONS PLAN IS –
Paul Martin MSP

Labour's Paul Martin, today stepped up criticism of SNP plans to end prison sentences of up to six months, following reports this morning that Monklands General Hospital last week saw six people admitted with injuries as a result of knives.

The SNP’s manifesto and the SNP-commissioned report on prisons both recommended the end of prison sentences of six months or less, except in exceptional circumstances. If this was implemented it would mean that, on latest figures, 847 people who have been convicted of handling a dangerous weapon and sent to jail would have remained on Scotland's streets.

Glasgow MSP Paul Martin said:

"The shocking statistic that six victims of knife crime were treated in just eight hours in one west of Scotland hospital really brings home the serious problem we face in tackling crime. Most of all, it just reinforces
why the SNP must abandon plans to let 4000 criminals out of Scottish jails.

"The SNP has already broken its promise on police numbers and refuses to do anything on knife crime. Now, SNP's plans to let 4,000 prisoners out of jail would mean releasing 847 offenders who were jailed for carryinga
knife or offensive weapon and this will make Scotland's streets less safe.

"Faced with the damning evidence of a leading consultant whole deals directly with the impact of knife crime, how can Kenny Macaskill press ahead with this crazy plan to let so many criminals onto the streets?

"Scotland, particularly Glasgow and Lanarkshire, is facing a growing problem of knife crime - as Dr Watt has today revealed - yet the SNP's only answer is to let such crime go unpunished by a jail sentence.

"The SNP are a soft touch for criminals. They need to stand up for the people of Scotland and drop their plans to let so many convicted of crime go free."