P ART 2 RELEASE FROM CUSTODY 15 6 Prisoners not to be released on certain days of the week (1) The Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 (“the 1993 Act”) is amended as follows. (2) In section 27 (interpretation of Part 1)— in subsection (7), for the words from “a Saturday”, in the first place where they (a) 20 occur, to the end substitute “— (a) an excepted day, or (b) subject to subsection (7A), a Thursday, the release of the prisoner is to be brought forward to the last preceding day which is a suitable release day. ”, 25 (b) subsection (7) insert— after “(7A) Subsection (7)(b) does not apply where the prisoner fell to be released on or by an excepted day and the release was brought forward to a Thursday by virtue of subsection (7)(a). (7B) For the purposes of subsections (7) and (7A)— 30 (a) an “excepted day” is a day which is— (i) a Friday, (ii) a Saturday, (iii) a Sunday, (iv) a public holiday, 35 (v) the day before a public holiday, (b) a “suitable release day” is a day which is not— (i) in a case where subsection (7)(a) applies, an excepted day, 6 Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill Part 2—release from custody (ii) in a case where subsection (7)(b) applies, an excepted day or a Thursday.”. 7 Release on licence of long-term prisoners (1) The 1993 Act is amended as follows. 5 (2) In section 1A (application to certain persons serving more than one sentence), in subsection (1)(c), after “3AA” insert “or 3AB”. (3) In section 1B (prisoners serving consecutive sentences including at least one terrorism sentence), in subsection (11), after “3AA” insert “or 3AB”. (4) In section 3AA (further powers to release prisoners)— 10 (a) subsection (1)(b) and “or” immediately preceding it are repealed, 1 (b) in the section title, after “release” insert “short-term”. (5) After that section insert— “3AB Further powers to release long-term prisoners (1) The Scottish Ministers may release on licence under this section a long-term 15 prisoner whose release under section 1 has not been recommended by the Parole Board. (2) Before releasing a long-term prisoner by virtue of subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers must consult the Parole Board. (3) If directed to do so by the Parole Board, the Scottish Ministers must release 20 on licence under this section a long-term prisoner whose release on having served one half of the prisoner’s sentence has been recommended by the Board. (4) In deciding whether to release a long-term prisoner by virtue of subsection (1) or direct the release of a prisoner by virtue of subsection (2), the Scottish or, Ministers as the case may be, the Parole Board must have regard to 25 considerations of— (a) protecting the public at large, (b) preventing re-offending by the prisoner, and (c) securing the successful re-integration of the prisoner into the community.