S6M-04320: Tackling Violent Crime

The motion

That the Parliament notes with concern that the number of police-recorded violent crimes is at its highest level in a decade; further notes that Scottish Government decisions have contributed to this rise by underfunding the police, which has led to full-time police officer numbers being at their lowest level since 2008; recognises that the Scottish Government’s justice strategy is failing victims of crime, as is evident through the 931,991 hours of community sentences that have been written off or not yet carried out; notes that organised crime and domestic abuse contribute to a deteriorating picture of crimes of violence in Scotland, and urges the Scottish Government to take action to address this; recognises that the Scottish Government’s justice strategy is failing to keep the public safe by diverting dangerous criminals away from prison, instead allowing them to carry out inadequate non-custodial alternatives; believes that proposals such as those outlined in the Scottish Government’s consultation on bail and release from custody arrangements, which include proposals to automatically release offenders after serving just a third of their prison sentence, do not address the shift in balance in the justice system away from victims, and further distil a lack of confidence in sentencing, and calls, therefore, on the Scottish Government to change strategy by acknowledging that punishment remains an important part of the criminal justice system, and to support proposals contained in the proposed Victims, Criminal Justice and Fatal Accident Inquiries (Scotland) Bill, such as the introduction of Michelle's Law and Suzanne's Law, to improve the landscape of support for the victims of crime, which it believes is currently letting down too many in society.

What MSPs voted on: the motion as amended

The Conservatives’ motion was rewritten by an SNP amendment (S6M-04320.2) before this vote. A vote ‘for’ was a vote for the SNP’s wording.

That the Parliament

269 words removed by S6M-04320.2

notes with concern that the number of police-recorded violent crimes is at its highest level in a decade; further notes that Scottish Government decisions have contributed to this rise by underfunding the police, which has led to full-time police officer numbers being at their lowest level since 2008; recognises that the Scottish Government’s justice strategy is failing victims of crime, as is evident through the 931,991 hours of community sentences that have been written off or not yet carried out; notes that organised crime and domestic abuse contribute to a deteriorating picture of crimes of violence in Scotland, and urges the Scottish Government to take action to address this; recognises that the Scottish Government’s justice strategy is failing to keep the public safe by diverting dangerous criminals away from prison, instead allowing them to carry out inadequate non-custodial alternatives; believes that proposals such as those outlined in the Scottish Government’s consultation on bail and release from custody arrangements, which include proposals to automatically release offenders after serving just a third of their prison sentence, do not address the shift in balance in the justice system away from victims, and further distil a lack of confidence in sentencing, and calls, therefore, on the Scottish Government to change strategy by acknowledging that punishment remains an important part of the criminal justice system, and to support proposals contained in the proposed Victims, Criminal Justice and Fatal Accident Inquiries (Scotland) Bill, such as the introduction of Michelle's Law and Suzanne's Law, to improve the landscape of support for the victims of crime, which it believes is currently letting down too many in society.

S6M-04320.2 SNP recognises that a majority of the Parliament supported the justice vision and strategy on 8 February 2022; further recognises the need to focus on prevention and early intervention, taking a whole-government approach to reduce crime and make communities safer; supports making services person centred and trauma informed, in line with the aims set out in the justice vision; believes that improving support for victims and survivors should be among the highest priorities for the justice system; notes that recorded crime is at one of the lowest levels since 1974; acknowledges that there is more to do to address violent crime and improve the experiences of women in communities and within the justice system; welcomes the sustained investment in the justice system in 2022-23; believes that, while there will always be a place for restricting people’s liberty in society, the balance should be shifted to ensure that custody is used only when no alternative is appropriate, making greater use of alternative options in communities, and contrasts this progressive and evidence-based approach with the strategy adopted by the UK Government.

Final wording as read into the Official Report at Decision Time. The marked changes are worked out by this site from the amendment texts and match that wording.

Amendments

S6M-04320.2 SNP Keith Brown Agreed vote, 69–29
S6M-04320.1 Labour Pauline McNeill Fell (worked out by this site: the Presiding Officer announced it would fall if another amendment was agreed, and that one was)

Signatures by party

3 MSPs besides the lodger · 0 from other parties

Con 3

Party on the day each MSP signed. Signing a motion is voluntary and not whipped. Who signs whose motions

Vote

1 division

11 May 2022
Tackling Violent Crime
S6M-04320as amended by SNP
Carried
69 for, 29 against, 20 abstained

Amendments

2

S6M-04320.1

Tackling Violent Crime
Pauline McNeill Lab Lodged 10 May 2022

No recorded vote
S6M-04320.2

Tackling Violent Crime
Keith Brown SNP Lodged 10 May 2022

Carried
69 for, 29 against

Supporters

3 MSPs

Con 3

Show all 3 supporters by party

Con 3

Party shown is each supporter’s party when the motion was published.

In the Official Report

4 contributions mention S6M-04320

11 May 2022

Violent Crime
Alison Johnstone Meeting of the Parliament

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-04320, in the name of Jamie Greene, on tackling violent crime. I would be grateful if members who wish to speak in the debate were to press their request-to-speak buttons. I call Jamie Gr…
11 May 2022

Decision Time
Alison Johnstone Meeting of the Parliament

I remind members that, if the amendment in the name of Keith Brown is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Pauline McNeill will fall. The next question is, that amendment S6M-04320.2, in the name of Keith Brown, which seeks to amend mot…
11 May 2022

Decision Time
Alison Johnstone Meeting of the Parliament

Pauline McNeill’s amendment therefore falls. The next question is, that motion S6M-04320, in the name of Jamie Greene, on tackling violent crime, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
11 May 2022

Decision Time
Alison Johnstone Meeting of the Parliament

The result of the division on motion S6M-04320, in the name of Jamie Greene, on tackling violent crime, as amended, is: For 69, Against 29, Abstentions 20. Motion, as amended, agreed to, That the Parliament recognises that a majority of th…