Yousaf considers cutting offenders’ unpaid work hours due to pandemic

Humza Yousaf

SWS said it would not be possible for the 700,000 hours of unpaid work to be done within the next 12 months.

“There is a major risk that Justice Social Work (JSW) will be overwhelmed, with serious consequences for the wider justice system,” the agency said.

Mr Yousaf told MSPs on Holyrood’s Justice Committee he was considering if the number of hours offenders had been ordered to do would require to be reduced on a “proportionate and limited basis”.

He said it could be necessary to “reduce the volume of outstanding unpaid work hours in order to ensure that the justice system can continue to operate efficiently and effectively”.

He added: “Should this be necessary, a careful balance will need to be struck so that victims of crime, the wider public and the judiciary continue to be confident that community orders are an effective way for individuals to payback to their communities, while taking into account the challenges faced by JSW and the wider justice system.”