Commenting on calls by Scotland’s most senior police officer that he would like to see less use of prison and greater emphasis on tackling causes of crime rather than just punishing offenders, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesman Robert Brown MSP said:

“I very much welcome the comments by David Strang, chief constable of Lothian and Borders police.

“The answer to tackling reoffending is to address what causes people to commit crime in the first place. That is why Liberal Democrats want to see very short term prison sentences replaced with tough new community sentences.

“Instead of having a bidding war as to who can lock up the most offenders, the Tories and Labour should listen to this expert.”

Ends.