Sentencing options for offenders under review

That's the stern message from the Home Affairs Minister who says more steps need to be built into the system before prison time is handed down.

 

Deterrents like conditional cautions and community sentencing could be drafted into new legislation - building on the current punishments available to the courts. 

 

Juan Watterson says it's something that's taken a back seat in the past - but it's now time to drive it forward and modernise the system: