GOVERNMENT MUST TACKLE PROBLEM OF ALCOHOL RELATED CRIME

12.00.00am GMT Mon 8th Dec 2008

Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Robert Brown MSP urged the Scottish Government to tackle the problem of alcohol related crime in Scotland.

A report from the Scottish Prison Service has revealed that five out of every ten prisoners admitted being drunk at the time of their offence. This is up 10 per cent from the 2005 survey. The report also highlights that many inmates have concerns about the effect of prison overcrowding on their access to training and medical services.

Commenting, Mr Brown said:

"This report is the latest in a series highlighting the problem of overcrowding in Scotland's prisons. We are campaigning for measures to reduce overcrowding including tackling the root causes of crime and replacing very short term sentences with tough community sentences.

"It also shows that alcohol related crimes is on the rise in Scotland. The SNP must abandon their draconian measures to demonise all under 21 year-olds and work with Parliament to put together a realistic strategy to tackle Scotland's alcohol problem.

"This should include using existing powers to crackdown on rogue retailers who sell to minors and ending deep discounting and cheap promotion of alcohol products in off-sale premises.

"It is very important that those who end up in prison have the problems that led to them being convicted addressed. It is clear that alcohol is a major and rising factor in relation to this."