Prisoners with outstanding charges could be given jail amnesty

The scheme “rolls up” outstanding warrants and complaints in an effort to deal with rapid returns to custody for serving prisoners and covers assault, fraud, weapons offences and shoplifting.

David Hines, of the National Victims’ Association said: “This sounds like a cost-cutting exercise and I’ve no doubt prisoners will be laughing up their sleeves.”

Led by justice groups as well as Police Scotland, the Crown Office and the Scottish Prison Service, the scheme is meant to reduce gate arrests and save time and resources.

Forty-three prisoners participated in the pilot and 11 had their offences marked with “no further action”, while three were deemed “too serious to discontinue” and went to court.

A Crown Office spokesman said: “We note the preliminary results of the Glasgow pilot with interest.”