TRACKER


with the police, prosecutors, prisons and other justice partners, we made signifi cant progress across the justice portfolio. Crime rates fell by a fi fth and are now lower than they have ever been over the past 32 years.” He said his party is on the way to replacing “ineffective short sentences with tough and effective community sentences” and reported that incidences of domestic violence are falling, but it remains a major concern.


He added: “Now, in the second term of a Scottish National Party Government, we will build on that progress and advance our justice agenda with determination and vigour. Working with our justice partners, we will do the right thing for the people of Scotland, and we will strive for an inclusive and respectful society. “Last season was not a football


season to remember, and we are taking immediate and decisive action: a bill will soon be introduced that strengthens the law on sectarian and other offensive behaviour at football matches and outlaws threatening communications, giving the police and procurators fi scal clearer and tougher powers. “At the same time, we are working with the police and the football authorities to deliver the eight commitments that were agreed at the football summit that was held in March. “Along with the proposed bill,


that can bring about real and lasting change. Racism, bigotry and sectarianism are not welcome here. We must now look to the future and focus on how we can make Scotland the country that we all want it to be: a diverse and inclusive society in which all members are accepted and able to fl ourish.” He added: “Over the past four years


we have made progress in tackling violence, gangs and knife crime. However, even one life lost to knife crime is one too many. Last weekend in Greenock and Airdrie, two more young lives were tragically cut short in knife- related incidents. I offer my sincere sympathy to those who have lost loved ones to this horrifi c crime.” He said: “Fewer people carry knives”


and that of those who do, “more are being caught”.


66 Holyrood 27 June 2011


A complete round up of all forthcoming parliamentary business


Telephone 0131 272 2114 editor@holyrood.com


MacAskill continued: “In our fi rst


term, we made dealing with organised criminal gangs a priority. Under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, we took more than £40m from organised criminal gangs and caused signifi cant disruption to their criminal activities.” He added that major steps forward


had been taking on tackling youth crime also. He added: “We face unprecedented


Westminster cuts. We will continue to improve and reform the way in which our public services are delivered, and that must include the police and fi re and rescue services.” He went on: “Justice must be


available to everyone, irrespective of their wealth. We will ensure that legal aid is available to those who need it most and we will discuss with stakeholders how best to target resources.” He added: “Taking Scotland forward is about giving our young people the best chance to succeed in life, protecting front-line services and doing what works. Making Scotland safer and stronger is an ambition that we all share. If we are innovative and creative and we work collectively as a Parliament, we can realise that ambition and help Scotland to achieve its full potential. “ Labour justice spokeswoman


Johann Lamont said: “I welcome the fact that the Justice Secretary has outlined a range of areas in which his Government intends to move forward. The reality is that the driving force for the next period will be the Scottish Government. It will shape the justice agenda, to which we hope to be able to contribute, so we welcome the Justice Secretary’s commitment to working with the Opposition. “ She said that where Labour can, they


are keen to work with the Government to ensure “Scotland’s justice system is underpinned by fairness, transparency and consistency”. She added: “From the inception of


the Parliament, Labour has always sought to stand on the side of the victim, listening properly and closely to what they describe as their experience, and seeking to respond to that. “We sometimes talk about justice


issues in a cartoon-like way, but when people talked about the impact of youth disorder on their young


people, children or grandchildren, we listened.”


On short-term sentences, she said: “I urge the minister not to stick to the position that he has held in the past. We recognise the importance of rehabilitation. Our view is that if we have effective community service orders, short sentences will wither on the vine, but the approach that the Government is taking means that the risk is being borne by those communities in which there are people who believe that they are untouchable and for whom CSOs have not worked.” She added: “On antisocial behaviour, we need to understand the persistent nature of the harassment, intolerance and intimidation that can make people’s lives a misery. Antisocial behaviour orders emerged out of that experience, and if they are ineffective, we need to think how we can make them more effective rather than simply dismissing them.” She continued: “On women


offenders and Cornton Vale, it is important that we work together. We acknowledge the establishment of the commission, but over the past 18 months we have been concerned about the absence of leadership in addressing the problem of women offenders in Cornton Vale.” The Conservative justice spokesman John Lamont said: “We should recognise the progress that has been made in recent years. Today, there are 1,000 more police offi cers on our streets than there were four years ago, preventing crime and providing reassurance to our communities. “I am proud of the role that


the Scottish Conservatives played in achieving that, although it is disappointing that certain other parties felt unable to support the extra police offi cers.” He added: “As members will be


aware, there has been a great deal of discussion about the future of police forces in Scotland. We have made it clear that, in any restructuring of the police forces, the priority must be to retain a visible, effective and locally accountable police presence on our streets.” He said the SNP “was wrong to


abolish prison sentences of less than three months”. He added: “Short-term prison sentences are not appropriate


in all situations, but we should leave it to the courts to decide when a prison sentence is necessary.” Patrick Harvie (Greens) said: “As the Cabinet Secretary asks us to look at one aspect of bigotry and prejudice in our society—sectarianism—we need to be careful about legislating. “In justice in particular, the unintended consequences when legislation is badly or hurriedly drafted can be clear. We have seen, for example, the case of Paul Chambers south of the border. For sending a bad joke about Robin Hood airport—not a funny or sensible joke to make, but a joke—he was convicted of sending a menacing electronic communication. “I am sure that members are aware


of the case. He lost on appeal as well and was landed with a bill for thousands of pounds in costs after a year of having his case dragged through the courts.” Mark McDonald (SNP) said he has


spent much time with police offi cers and is aware of the struggles they have. He said: “As a local councillor, I


have spent a large amount of time with police offi cers on the beat in my ward, observing them and their work. It is phenomenally depressing to spend time on the beat with police offi cers during a weekend, because the majority, if not the entirety, of the work that they do in such a community is picking up drunk kids and returning them to their parents. “It is unfortunate that so many


young folk still fi nd that the only acceptable thing for them to do of a weekend is to go out and get blootered.” Roseanna Cunningham (SNP)


concluded the debate, and said: “There is no question but that all of us want to make Scotland safer and stronger. As the Cabinet Secretary for Justice said at the start of the debate, we hope that colleagues from across the chamber will engage with us so that we can continue to reduce crime and reoffending and create an inclusive and respectful society. “The task ahead is challenging, but


we can deliver real improvements if we are innovative and creative and if we work closely with our justice and safer communities partners.”


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