Prison population up 6% in year to April, figures show

The Scottish prison population increased by 6% in a year, figures show.

The number of people in jail was around 7,860 on the average day between April 1 2023 and March 31 this year, according to data published by the chief statistician.

The report said the rise was driven by an increase in the sentenced population, which was up 8% over the year compared to 2022-23.

The figures indicate there was a 12% increase (to 1,392) in the number of people serving time for sexual offences and a 17% rise in those in prison for crimes of dishonesty (to 344).

Those serving time for non-sexual, violent crimes increased by 4% to 2,722 – and remained the largest average daily sentenced population.

In line with previously reported trends, the proportion of the average daily sentenced population serving sentences for offences that were non-sexual crimes of violence or sexual crimes continued to grow in 2023-24, reaching 68% – up one percentage point from 2022-23.

The share of the average daily sentenced population serving shorter index sentences remained below pre-pandemic levels in 2023-24. In 2019-20, 53% of the sentenced population had index sentences of four years or less and by 2023-24, this had fallen to 44%.

The overall average daily remand population remained stable between 2022-23 and 2023-24, falling by 0.5% to 1,796.

The increase in the average daily sentenced population has meant the proportion of the overall prison population held on remand on the average day fell in 2023-24, to 23%.

The data also shows British nationals comprised more than 90% of prisoners in Scotland in 2023-24.

Arrivals to prison increased by around 11% in 2023-24 to 11,646, whereas before the pandemic there was a long-term downward trend.

However, the number of arrivals remains lower than pre-pandemic levels, which hit 14,341 in 2019-20.

There was a 6.5% increase in departures from prison to 11,111 in 2023-24.

Both arrivals to and departures from prison were below pre-pandemic levels in 2023-24, but the difference between the two (535) is at its highest level since 2018-19, when it was 719 – leading to a growth in the population.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “There is no single reason for the increase in the prison population highlighted in these statistics and there is no single solution to the issue.

“Scotland is not alone in facing this challenge. Across the UK and elsewhere there has been an increase in prison populations and governments have had to implement a range of actions to address this.

“The Scottish Government is working with the Scottish Prison Service and the wider justice sector to manage the prison population, which is complex and changing, in a safe and sustainable way, including introducing legislation which was recently passed by the Scottish Parliament to change the release point of short-term prisoners.

“We need the prison system to focus on those who pose the greatest risk to the public and provide a range of support to help reduce re-offending and integration back into the community. Whilst we will always need prison, the evidence shows that community sentencing can be more effective in combating reoffending than short sentences.”

A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said the figures were not unexpected, and said it manages a highly overpopulated system.

The said: “We continue to manage an extremely high and complex population, with many of our establishments full beyond their design capacity.

“This restricts our staff’s ability to do the quality work that supports people’s rehabilitative journeys, prepares them for release, reduces the risk of reoffending, and helps build safer communities.

“We welcomed the recent passing of the Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill and the focus this brought to addressing the challenges we face.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP said: “Scotland’s prisons are dangerously overcrowded.

“The SNP ignored the warning signs for years and were slow to act. This is another mess of the government’s own making.”