Over 500 prisoners will be released early next month as the Scottish Government attempts to tackle the rising number of people in the country’s jails.

It comes after the justice secretary announced the legislation at Holyrood on May 16, after warning that prison estates are at “critical risk”.

Angela Constance previously told STV News she was concerned about safety within prisons, including the potential for a rise in violence between prisoners and against staff, and said the chief inspector of prisons for Scotland wrote to her to warn about “deep concerns” regarding overcrowding.

The Scottish Parliament will now be asked to approve the emergency release of short-term prisoners to address the concerns regarding the “rapid rise” in the prison population.

If regulations are agreed, it is understood that at around 550 eligible prisoners will be released in four tranches from the end of June 2024.

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