Controversy as "offender" references removed from bill

Most references to "offenders" in the Scottish Government's Management of Offenders (Scotland) Bill are to be removed, in a miove designed to assist their rehabilitation.

The Scottish Government accepted in large part a Labour proposal regarding the bill, currently at stage 2 before the Scottish Parliament, which will see the term "relevant person" used instead. However it drew the line at renaming the bill the Management of Persons who have been Convicted of an Offence (Scotland) Bill.

Labour spokesperson Daniel Johnson, moving the amendments, said it was important to give people every opportunity to change their lives and return to society. "By continuing to use terminology such as offender or prisoner when these convictions are discharged, and indeed once they are spent, we continue to stigmatise that individual and make it more difficult for them to make those changes in their life."

He was supported by the Greens and Liberal Democrats, but Conservative spokespwerson Liam Kerr said the law should not deal in "semantic gymnastics". He commented: "This bill should be about the management of convicted criminals, not the politically correct crusade of Scottish Labour."

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf responded that those who work with people who have been to prison "often tell you the stigma they face is an incredibly difficult one when it comes to employment and future opportunities in life". 

Some "offender" references have to be retained, where they concern previous reserved legislation.