The number of inmates in Scottish prisons being released on a tag has dropped. This has been a direct result of the new rules brought in after an inmate committed murder while on the run.

The SPS admit that the new rules mean that the number of prisoners being granted home release will be cut. There will now only be 7 inmates per week being released under this scheme. This is over a 70 percent drop.

There will now be a strong presumption against inmates being released who have violent pasts. Mr McConnell, head of SPS, said: “In terms of the situation now, there is a considerable restriction and presumption against the grant of HDC, which has resulted in, since these new measures were introduced, approaching a 75 per cent reduction.”