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“Residents the spur to creating feel-safe complex: One of Britain’s biggest people-friendly street complexes is to be created in Port Glasgow. Designed to combat fear of crime, a low-quality environment and speeding traffic in an area stigmatised by drug dealing, benefit abuse and other social problems, the ?1.2m “Home Zone” will centre on the town’s run-down Robert Street housing area. . .” Herald.
See also
Posted by MM on Mon 5th Jan 2004 at 4:33 pm“Labour can deal with criminals the popular way or the right way: There was a palpable air of embarrassment at the BBC last week as the result of its latest voters? poll was announced [. . .] This bill [the ABB] will do nothing to address the needs of these already isolated young people - it will simply alienate them yet further. The new laws will subject them to a raft of compulsory orders which will exacerbate rather than resolve the causes of their resentment and hostility. Scotland will simply be following the example set in England of introducing laws which criminalise a whole section of our society without remotely considering the root causes of its offending behaviour. . .” Magnus Linklater. Scotland on Sunday
“Police fears over Scots plans to tackle yobs: Police chiefs have voiced “serious reservations” about part of the Scottish Executive?s proposals to tackle antisocial behaviour.
The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpos) in Scotland says it generally welcomes the measures in the Bill being examined by MSPs. But it restates its view the new power for police to disperse groups is unnecessary [. . .] The Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, also criticises the proposals. . .” Evening News
“Police chiefs call for freedom from Executive: Senior police chiefs have warned Scottish Executive ministers not to interfere with the way they carry out their duties. In a written submission to the Scottish Parliament, the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland (ACPOS) claimed proposed legislation on anti-social behaviour could impinge on the operational accountability of chief constables [. . .] Mr Strang said he had serious reservations about section 21 of the bill, which “confers a power on Scottish ministers to give directions to police officers in the exercise of powers”. . .” Scotsman
See Also
6.01.04. Justice 2 Committee Agenda and Papers. N.B. The Committee will hear evidence from SACRO, APEX and Children 1st as well as the Police organisations.
Posted by MM on Mon 5th Jan 2004 at 4:19 pm“Poor funding ‘will hamper reform’: The Scottish Executive’s promise to cut crime and reduce delays in Scotland’s court system will be undermined by a lack of funds, it has been claimed. The SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon said she was worried spending on the Crown Office would flatline over the next two years. . .” BBC
“Crime crackdown underfunded” Scottish TV
“Nats Blast At Courts Cash” Daily Record
“Budget freeze ‘will hit Scots crime crackdown’: The Scottish Executive’s commitment to cut crime and court delays will be hit by a two-year budget freeze, the SNP claimed today. . .” Evening Times
Posted by MM on Mon 5th Jan 2004 at 4:12 pmMedia
“Crime proceeds case is UK first: The UK’s first successful civil court case to recover suspected proceeds of crime involved a man from Aberdeen, the Crown Office has revealed.
The ?24,000 which was paid to the authorities is thought to have come from the profits of drug trafficking. . .” BBC
“Scotland first over drug cash seizure: A civil court action has been used in Scotland to seize suspected profits of drug trafficking for the first time in the UK [. . .] He had been acquitted of drug trafficking offences after pleading not guilty, but could not account for a substantial sum of money in his bank account. He had made regular deposits, totalling ?45,970, over three years while on benefits with no other known legitimate income. His co-accused was convicted. . .” Herald
“Court seizes ?24,000 from man cleared of drug offences: Scotland’s top legal officer yesterday welcomed a landmark legal ruling in which a man previously cleared of drug trafficking offences had ?24,000 seized by a court. . .” Scotsman
“Drug crime money seized: Scottish TV
“Aberdeen man has assets seized: Grampian TV
“`Dealer’ Cash is Siezed By Civil Courts: Daily Record
Press Release
“Confiscation of drug profits: The first proceeds of crime in the UK to be paid back following a civil court action have been recovered at the Court of Session in Edinburgh by the Civil Recovery Unit (CRU) which acts on behalf of Scottish Ministers. . .” Scot. Exec.
Posted by MM on Mon 5th Jan 2004 at 4:00 pm“English Firms Get Criminal Checks Done in Scotland: Scotlands’s criminal record checking system is being swamped by English firms because it’s cheaper and faster than their own [. . .] The Scottish cost for checks is ?13.60 less than half the price of the English firm. . .” Sunday Mail
Posted by MM on Mon 5th Jan 2004 at 3:56 pm“Police officers given chance to win a degree of understanding: Police are to be offered degree courses to make them more rounded individuals under plans being drawn up by the Scottish Police College in Fife [. . .] Under the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) people strategy for the next decade ? which is due to be published this month ? officers should be given the opportunity to obtain school and university level certificates. . . “ Herald
Posted by MM on Mon 5th Jan 2004 at 3:48 pm“Castle Huntly absconders: ?no cover-up?: The Scottish Prison Service today denied there was any cover-up following the abscondments from Castle Huntly of three prisoners. . .” Evening Telegraph
“A Killer, A Smuggler and A Thug are on the Run from this Prison..They Forgot to Tell Us: A Murderer, a drugs trafficker and a vicious thug are on the run after walking out of an open prison. Prison authorities were last night accused of a cover-up after failing to tell the public the men had fled from Castle Huntly jail. . .” Sunday Mail
Posted by MM on Mon 5th Jan 2004 at 3:40 pm
To ask the Scottish Executive in how many cases appearing before the High Court the defendant had been held on remand in each of the last four years, expressed also as a percentage of all cases.
Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con)
To ask the Scottish Executive what performance points were accrued by the operating company of HM Prison Kilmarnock, broken down for each heading and subsection in Schedule F to the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock, for the quarter July to September 2003.
Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP)
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to address overcrowding in prisons in light of the Chief Inspector of Prisons? comments in his annual report for 2002-03 on its impact on improving prison conditions, safety and the ability to address offending behaviour.
To ask the Scottish Executive how private prison provision compares to public provision in its impact on reducing offending.
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3188 by Cathy Jamieson on 3 November 2003, when it will end slopping out in prisons.
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the prison population is at its highest recorded level.
To ask the Scottish Executive what stage it has reached in planning new prisons.
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab)
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have a mental health problem, broken down by age, gender and prison.
Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP)
(WQ 13.1.01)
Posted by MM on Fri 2nd Jan 2004 at 10:17 pm
“Scottish MPs ‘favoured’ hanging: Papers made public for the first time have revealed the strength of opposition among Scots MPs to the permanent abolition of hanging. . .” BBC
“Death Penalty Row” Daily Record.
“Bid to Ban the Belt: There was no backing from the Scottish Office to ban corporal punishment in schools. . .” Daily Record
Posted by MM on Fri 2nd Jan 2004 at 3:24 pm