Bail system in crisis, say police chiefs

Conference call to Executive for crackdown on bail offenders

News, 20 May 2005

Police chiefs will today urge Scotland's Justice Minister to get tough on criminals who reoffend while on bail.

The Association of Scottish Police Superintendents will warn Cathy Jamieson at its annual conference that the bail system is in crisis.

The latest figures show that more than 21,000 offences have been committed by people on bail since last year in the Strathclyde Police area alone.

ASPS believes that thousands of criminals flout bail conditions and commit further crimes because they believe they can get away with it.

Police chiefs are also concerned about the Executive's plans for early release of offenders, electronically tagged, which they also believe will lead to increased offending without proper monitoring.

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