Bail-related Offences

– in the Scottish Parliament at on 15 November 2017.

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Photo of Murdo Fraser Murdo Fraser Conservative

4. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the number of bail-related offences. (S5O-01466)

Photo of Michael Matheson Michael Matheson Scottish National Party

The Scottish Government is keen to discourage breach of bail, which is why we have made it easier to bring charges for such breaches. Decisions in any given case as to whether to grant bail are a matter for our independent courts.

Photo of Murdo Fraser Murdo Fraser Conservative

I am sure that the cabinet secretary is aware of the significant increase in the number of people breaching bail conditions. In 2006-07, one in eight bail orders was breached, but the figures for 2015-16 show that it is now one in five. In light of a recent high-profile sexual assault case where bail conditions were breached with tragic consequences—

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

Please ask a supplementary question.

Photo of Murdo Fraser Murdo Fraser Conservative

Can the minister confirm whether the Scottish Government is considering additional measures to enforce bail conditions to protect the most vulnerable victims of crime?

Photo of Michael Matheson Michael Matheson Scottish National Party

In recent years, we have taken two separate measures through legislation to tighten up bail-related matters, in 2007 and again in 2010. In 2015-16, there were 8,563 bail-related offences, which was similar to the figure in previous years. Between 2008-09 and 2015-16, the number of bail-related offences decreased by 6 per cent, so there has been a reduction in the number of offences that have been committed on bail. We took additional measures through the Criminal Proceedings etc (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 and the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 to make it easier for our courts to deal with breaches of bail and to tighten up the conditions under which bail can be granted. The member is incorrect to state that, overall, breaches of bail are up. The statistics show that, between 2008-09 and 2015-16, which is the most recent year for which there are figures, bail-related offences decreased by 6 per cent.