PRISON officers have backed emergency legislation that will see hundreds of prisoners released from Scotland’s jails early.

The Prison Officers Association (POA), however, warned MSPs that it is only one of the steps needed if the “real issue” of prison overcrowding is to be tackled in the longer term.

Under the plans, between 260 and 390 prisoners would be released by early February in three tranches over six weeks.

The Scottish government Bill would change the automatic release point for sentences of four years or less from 50 to 40 per cent of term, excluding those for sexual or domestic violence.

POA assistant general secretary Phil Fairlie welcomed the Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill as a “step in the right direction in helping to reduce prisoner numbers.”

But he stressed there is a need for a “much wider and fundamental debate in Scotland about what it is we want from our prisons,” as well as a review of sentencing policy in Scotland.

In a letter to MSPs, he said: “In the meantime, however, our members are tired, they are stressed, they are being assaulted in increasing numbers, they are having to intervene into prisoner assaults at an increasing level, while dealing with more and more issues of complex mental health deteriorations and self-harm episodes amongst the prisoner groups, which in turn is all having significant impacts on the mental health of our members too.”

Supported by SNP and Green MSPs, the Bill was expected to pass last night as the Morning Star went to press.

Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats voted against the legislation last week.

Holyrood was set to sit late today to complete the final two stages of the legislative process.