My scary question for Halloween is: why are we putting so many people in prison?

Scotland has one of the highest imprisonment rates in Europe, at 150 prisoners per 100,000 population. Only Latvia (175) and Lithuania (156) exceed us, though England and Wales are not far behind (140).

Contrast this with Norway (55), Germany (68), Ireland (91), France (115) and it’s not much wonder our prisons are over-crowded and at crisis-point. We’ve heard concerns this week over drug infestation, gang-land feuds, a lack of rehabilitation and low staff morale. The Prison Officers Association said its members’ health and wellbeing is suffering and there are real problems over recruitment and early retirement. It’s called for big increases in the prison budget.

In response the justice secretary Angela Con

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