The Scottish prison population would be dramatically slashed if minimum alcohol pricing was introduced, justice secretary Kenny MacAskill has said.
The minister spoke out on Wednesday during a visit to Perth Prison, where he inspected the recent £70 million redevelopment and said the investment has made the prison “fit for the 21st century.”
However, he sparked a political spat by suggesting Scotland’s “damaging” relationship with cheap booze is heaping extra pressure on jails throughout the country.
Mr MacAskill told The Courier, “The Scottish Prison Service will confirm that a huge amount of crime is alcohol-fuelled as night follows day, cheap drink is taken and mayhem flows.”
Mr MacAskill made no secret of his distaste for opposition MSPs who have pledged to block moves to introduce minimum pricing.
“We must do more to tackle Scotland’s damaging relationship with alcohol it is time for politicians to do their bit,” he said.
“If we stopped the very thing which fuels so much offending we would see prison populations fall.”
Although welcoming the £70 million investment at Perth Prison, Mr MacAskill confessed he would rather see the money spent on “schools and hospitals.”
“Difficult decisions have to be taken,” he said.
“Do we really want to build more prisons or do we try to stop the things that lead to offending in the first place?”
However, Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser took exception to the justice secretary’s comments.”Kenny MacAskill should not try to simplify the complex issue of alcohol-related crime by suggesting minimum pricing would result in a sharp fall in the prison population,” he said.Minimum pricing opposition”Action needs to be taken to sort out Scotland’s relationship with alcohol but minimum pricing would still allow problem drinks like Buckfast and strong ciders to remain the same price.
“All the SNP government will do is damage Perthshire’s whisky industry and penalise responsible drinkers.
“We must have targeted tax increases on problem drinks such as alcopops and strong ciders instead of the SNP’s unworkable minimum pricing.”
Despite his comments, Mr MacAskill acknowledged that the renovations at Perth Prison were desperately required.
Built in the 1800s to hold 7000 French prisoners from the Napoleonic wars, the institution gained notoriety as one of the last jails in Scotland where inmates had to “slop out.”
However, the radical redevelopment has changed all of that.
“What we basically have here is a new prison on an old site,” Mr MacAskill said.
“The redevelopment is very impressive it is a case of £70 million well spent. Issues such as slopping out clearly had to be addressed.
“The Scottish Prison Service has managed to maintain a balance between prison safety while making the jail fit for the 21st century.”
During his tour of the new facilities, Mr MacAskill also met representatives of Cross Reach, a social care charity that works with often drug and drink dependent inmates, attempting to prepare them for life free from crime beyond the prison’s walls.
“I really want to give my full support to Cross Reach, which does fantastic work,” he said.
“Prisoners have to go back into the community and the cycle of offending has to be broken.”
Elaine Waugh is co-ordinator at Perth Prison’s Cross Reach visitor centre.
“Most service users have mental health and drug and alcohol problems,” she explained.
“We try to help turn their lives around and also prepare support for them on the outside when they are released.”
Perth Prison governor Mick Stoney welcomed Mr MacAskill to the jail.
“The redevelopment has gone very well,” he said.
“We are delighted to welcome the minister here today to see the work that has been done.”
During the £70 million project bulldozers razed the old C Hall, finally marking an end to the draconian practice of slopping out.
Only the facade of the listed building remains, following an agreement with Historic Scotland.
The new C Hall can hold 356 prisoners, with each cell featuring its own bed, TV set, toilet, wash basin, safe for belongings and pin board.
Associated construction work during the £70 million project included the creation of a gymnasium, staff facilities and a large visitor complex.
During his tour of the new facilities, Mr MacAskill also met representatives of Cross Reach, a social care charity that works with often drug and drink dependent inmates, attempting to prepare them for life free from crime beyond the prison’s walls.
“I really want to give my full support to Cross Reach, which does fantastic work,” he said.
“Prisoners have to go back into the community and the cycle of offending has to be broken.”
Elaine Waugh is co-ordinator at Perth Prison’s Cross Reach visitor centre.
“Most service users have mental health and drug and alcohol problems,” she explained.
“We try to help turn their lives around and also prepare support for them on the outside when they are released.”
Perth Prison governor Mick Stoney welcomed Mr MacAskill to the jail.
“The redevelopment has gone very well,” he said.
“We are delighted to welcome the minister here today to see the work that has been done.”
During the £70 million project bulldozers razed the old C Hall, finally marking an end to the draconian practice of slopping out.
Only the facade of the listed building remains, following an agreement with Historic Scotland.
The new C Hall can hold 356 prisoners, with each cell featuring its own bed, TV set, toilet, wash basin, safe for belongings and pin board.
Associated construction work during the £70 million project included the creation of a gymnasium, staff facilities and a large visitor complex.