Victim Support Scotland emphasised that an important element was that the punishment must still be seen to fit the crime and hoped that the initiative would free up prison places so that the courts, if they felt it appropriate, could impose harsher sentences on individuals committing more serious crimes.

David Sinclair, Head of Communications for VSS, said: “If victims of crime can see that the community sentence is a genuine punishment, and that the offender, where appropriate, is suffering financially for her/his offence, and additionally by working for the community, then there should be general support for the scheme. The crucial element is that the punishment fits the crime. This is what instills faith in our criminal justice system.”

“The Cabinet Secretary has indicated that the full effect of the changes he has outlined will only become apparent over a longer timespan and to that extent this is experimental. However, all the indications and statistics support his proposal that change is necessary.”