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Draft Budget - what it means for the justice service
17/09/2009
A real terms cut in the Scottish Government budget has put significant pressure on budgets, but frontline justice services will be protected, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said today.
The Minister confirmed that spending will remain at 09-10 levels, and key justice commitments will be unaffected.
The announcement means:
- Record numbers of police officers - more than 1,000 higher than in March 2007 - will patrol Scotland's streets deterring crime and keeping communities safe.
- Increased funding for additional police officers, fulfilling this Government's commitment to centrally fund 1,000 additional police officers by March 2011.
- Police and fire pension commitments will be fulfilled.
- The prisons building programme will continue, with £136.8 million capital investment, including two new prisons in Grampian and Bishopbriggs.
- Substantial investment in reducing reoffending will continue.
- The court building programme will be unaffected.
Mr MacAskill said that like every portfolio, Justice will be tightening its belt - but that this will be achieved through targeting administrative savings of around 1.5 per cent shared across the entire portfolio.
He said:
"There will be no cuts to frontline justice services. Our job is to protect Scottish communities from harm and to punish those who break the law. These are the overriding priorities for the Scottish justice system and this Government.
"We will continue to invest in front line services, with additional funding in place to build on the record numbers of police officers delivered under this administration - over 1,000 more than in March 2007.
"We will continue to invest through the recession, building new prisons to lock up those serious criminals who destroy our communities, whilst giving a boost to Scotland's construction industry in these difficult times.
"And we will continue to deliver swift justice through a modern, efficient court system, whilst investing to tackle reoffending and to cut crime in communities.
"Crime is at a 25 year low under this Government, with record numbers of police officers patrolling our streets keeping Scotland safe, and I am determined to ensure that continues."