PA MediaMandatory life sentences for child rapists are among the proposals set out by Russell Findlay “to fix Scotland’s broken and weak justice system”.
The Scottish Conservative leader is to launch a policy paper that he says will “reverse the SNP’s harmful, soft-touch agenda by cracking down on criminals and strengthening victims’ rights”.
Key proposals include tougher punishment for anti-social behaviour and knife crime, “tightening bail laws” to help prevent further crimes being committed by those on bail, and more regular police patrols on the streets.
The paper also suggests seizing drug dealers’ cash “by fixing broken proceeds of crime laws”, and introducing a new Victim Rights Act.
Mr Findlay said the policies are “essential to restoring public confidence” in Scotland’s justice system and making communities safer.
He claimed SNP ministers “like to talk about putting victims of crime first”, but said “the reality is very different”, accusing the Scottish Government of “lax sentencing guidelines” and “pandering to criminals” through its early release scheme.
The Scottish Tory leader said: “Crime victims and the law-abiding majority of Scots are sickened by the SNP’s relentless weakening of the justice system.
“There are so many cases of horror and heartbreak in which the suffering of crime victims is compounded.
“They’re treated with cold contempt while ministers pander to dangerous criminals who inflict misery in our communities.
“We demand a return to robust and effective policing to crack down on knife crime and bankrupt the drugs gangs.
“We want zero-tolerance for child rapists and to ensure that bail is not granted for those who we know will walk out of court to commit more crimes.
“Our paper proposes a fundamental reset of the SNP’s broken and weak justice system by genuinely putting victims at its heart.”
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “The reality is that recorded crime has fallen by more than half since 1991, showing Scotland is a safe place to live.
“This year we are investing £4.2 billion across the justice system, including a record £1.64 billion for policing, and we’ve recently passed landmark legislation to enable sweeping changes to place victims at the heart of the justice system.
“We have also introduced reforms that will require courts to specifically consider the physical and psychological safety of victims when making decisions on bail.
“Our Cashback for Communities programme, which is funded by seized criminal assets, will provide up to £26 million to the end of March 2029 to provide early intervention and preventative support to thousands of young people who may be at risk of becoming involved in offending or antisocial behaviour.”
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
