THOUSANDS of criminals will be spared prison under radical plans announced by the SNP Executive.
Offenders such as thieves, housebreakers, drink-drivers, vandals and fine defaulters who would have been sentenced to six months or less will be given community service instead.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "I want tough community punishments which will protect the public, help offenders turn their lives around and involve some payback to communities they harmed."
But Labour said those serving short sentences had been locked up for the good of society.
And Tory MSP Bill Aitken said: "Frankly, there is nobody who is sent to jail who should not be sent to jail."
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