New figures again show link between crime and alcohol

SNP MSP for the City of Glasgow Anne McLaughlin is again appealing to her Labour and Lib Dem colleagues to support tough measures on Scotland's relationship with alcohol.

A survey by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) shows that half of Scotland's prison population committed their crime whilst drunk. A 10% rise since 2005.

Commenting on the figures Ms McLaughlin said: "This is a severely depressing and negative situation that we find ourselves in.

"Crimes committed whilst the offender is under the influence of alcohol are up 10%, if that's not evidence enough for opposition MSPs to back our tough proposals, then I don't know what else they need.

"The figures speak for themselves. 42% of prisoners even said they knew they had a problem with alcohol, a call to action if ever there was one.

"In Parliament just yesterday I appealed to MSPs of all parties to help sort out Scotland's disastrous relationship with alcohol. This is something that will be for the good of our communities, the good of our public finances and most of all the good of our health."

Note:

Anne asked the following questions in Parliament to Justice Secretary Kenny Macaskill MSP yesterday (Thursday):

Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP): "To ask the Scottish Executive how many knife crime incidents have taken place since 2007."

Supplementary:
"I thank the Cabinet Sec for his answer and I particularly applaud the work in Glasgow where knife crime has decreased in the last year in some areas by up to 24.44%. I wonder if the cabinet secretary will agree with me that the indisputable evidence demonstrates the strong link between alcohol and knife crime and will he join me in again inviting the Labour and Lib Dem members of this chamber to join the ever burgeoning group of interested parties including Labour's own Westminster Health Secretary who agree that the time has come for tough measures including minimum pricing of alcohol to tackle alcohol abuse and in turn tackle the scourge of knife crime?"

For further information on the SPS report please see here.