The government is moving forward with the early release of around 1,000 more prisoners, despite growing calls for the program to be paused. This second wave of releases comes amidst concerns about public safety, particularly regarding sex offenders and violent criminals.
Early Release Program Continues Amid Criticism
A source close to justice secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed that the early release scheme will continue, with some inmates serving as little as 40% of their sentences. This decision follows warnings from former home secretary Dame Priti Patel, who called for the program to be suspended after raising alarms about potentially dangerous criminals being released early.
Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Josh Babarinde also attempted to bring the issue to Parliament with an urgent question. However, Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle turned down his request.
Overcrowding in Prisons Forces Government’s Hand
The early release scheme was initiated in response to severe overcrowding in Britain’s prisons, with the system reportedly down to its last 100 places at one point. Although the program is designed to exclude sex offenders and those convicted of domestic abuse, there are concerns that not all offenders in these categories are being properly identified.
One particularly troubling case is that of Amari Ward, a 31-year-old offender who, after being released in the first wave of early releases in September, sexually assaulted a woman on the day of his release.
Calls for Suspension of the Program
Dame Priti Patel has written to Shabana Mahmood, urging the Ministry of Justice to suspend the early release of prisoners, citing reports of reoffending among those already released. Patel emphasised the lack of data on reoffending rates, prison recalls, and support for victims, which has heightened concerns about public safety.
“With thousands of prisoners being released early, including those responsible for serious violent crimes, it’s shocking that the government has not provided any assessment of the impact on public safety,” said Patel.
She added, “Until the government clarifies the effects of this program and puts stronger measures in place to protect the public, the early release scheme should be suspended.”
Government Defends the Scheme
Despite these concerns, a source close to the justice secretary defended the decision to continue with the releases, stating that halting the program would bring the prison system back into crisis.
“If the program didn’t continue, we would be back in the overcrowding crisis that the previous government left us in just a few months ago,” said the source, criticising the former Conservative administration’s approach to prison management.
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