Justice Secretary Angela Constance is being urged to bar inmates with convictions for violence against the police from being considered for early release.

The Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (Asps) made the plea to Ms Constance as the latest phase of releases, designed to ease pressure on Scotland's overcrowded jails, gets under way.

While some of those sentenced to jail terms of four years or less are being freed early, the Justice Secretary has been clear that those with convictions for domestic abuse or sex offences will not be included.

Now Asps wants Ms Constance to extend that to include those offenders found to have used violence towards police officers.

Asps president, Chief Superintendent Rob Hay, said doing this would be a "positive move" by the Scottish

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