We all reacted in horror to the potential early release of the killers who dragged a newlywed policeman to his death under a car, but it was particularly painful for one north-east family.

They suffered similar torment due to the Scottish Government’s equally zealous commitment to freeing violent prisoners as fast as possible, no matter how much it hurts victims and grieving families.

A situation made worse by the Scottish justice system’s own habitual offending – through soft sentences in courts, which hasten their release.

It’s a national scandal, especially as the SNP has been in charge of prisons for almost two decades – and still can’t get it right.

There’s an image I can’t get out of my head – the sight of two of the thugs involved in the horrific death of Pc Andrew Harper.

They were grinning from ear to ear outside court and clearly revelled in their sickening notoriety.

A huge public row blew up over plans to release them early in England – halfway through their 13-year sentences – under similar rules to Scotland.

It provoked a ferocious backlash and a one-million-strong petition from the public to reverse their early release.

Backed by 50 UK police chiefs who, in fairness, demanded the same treatment for all victims of violent crime wronged so cruelly by........

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