Neil Gray: “Prisons will always be necessary for those who pose the highest risk.”

We have consulted on a range of measures to achieve a sustainable prison population, while maintaining public protection and reducing future offending.

The MRA’s decision is absolutely critical to plot the route forward for the residents so I made clear to them that they have an absolute responsibility and moral obligation to take this decision as quickly as possible.

I thank police officers and staff for all that they do to keep Scotland safe.

This is a horrific and deeply shocking case and my thoughts, first and foremost, are with the victims, who have shown enormous courage in coming forward.