§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary for State for Scotland how many and what percentage of serious offenders were released in Scotland without a supervision order, in each year since 1992. [17694]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe information requested is not available. However, it may be useful to highlight the current legislative requirements in relation to supervision of offenders. Sections 12 and 14 of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 set out, with effect from 1 October 1993, new provisions in relation to the supervision of prisoners. Section 12 requires that all long-term prisoners—those sentenced to four years or more—will be supervised on release by a relevant local authority officer. Similarly, section 14 enables the courts to order supervision for those short-term prisoners sentenced to between one and four years who may pose a potential risk to the public on 523W release. This power is exercised by imposing a supervised release order. Measures are therefore in place to ensure the supervision of offenders as appropriate.
The Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Bill, currently before Parliament, contains provisions to extend the availability of the supervised release order. It would provide for mandatory supervision for up to 25 per cent. of sentence for those convicted of the most serious violent offences.