THE controversial early release scheme will see 1,700 prisoners back on the streets today.
Fears over Brits’ safety are mounting as cells are unlocked in an attempt to free up nearly 6,000 beds across the country.
1
Most lags set be let out would have served just 40 per cent of their sentence instead of the half they’re ordered to.
Some 300 prisoners will be released in London alone.
Officers have had as little as a week’s notice — instead of three months — to prepare to monitor and rehabilitate serious offenders.
Independent Government advisor Martin Jones said there is a “certainty” that inmates will reoffend.
He said on Tuesday: “I would just like to pay tribute to the work of the front line workers on the probation side who have been doing a huge amount of work to ensure that they are as ready as they can be.
“But I fear there will be pinch points over the next few days and weeks, particularly for example over accommodation and ensuring probation officers have what they need to manage those cases.”
Early release offenders will be subject to restrictions for the rest of their sentence outside the cells – including curfews, tagging and probation officer supervision.
The scheme was introduced by Labour days after they won the general election.
Changes to the law mean that if any prisoner on a standard determinate sentence is held for a day longer than 40 per cent of their term, their jail could face a legal claim for unlawful detention.
Large numbers of criminals who have already reached this point have had to stay inside until the official start date — hence today’s mass release.
Terrorists, domestic abusers, sexual and serious violent offenders do not qualify for the scheme.
The Sun Says
RELEASING prisoners early is a huge gamble for Labour — with the law-abiding public likely to pay the price
Ministers will roll the dice and release 2,000 prisoners early to ease prison overcrowding.
They had better have more than just fingers and toes crossed.
There is no doubt that the Tories left jails in a dire state by failing to build enough new ones. But does it make sense for Labour to now choose to put the public at such risk?
Among those freed will be dangerous and violent men responsible for appalling crimes.
Many of them will have been back on the streets up to two months before they get their “pre-release” assessments — ample time to go out and commit further offences.
Even at current average rates of reoffending, we can safely assume that more than a quarter are likely to go straight back out and break the law.
That means more homes burgled, more drugs peddled, more bloody attacks on the innocent.
