More than 2,000 prisoners let out in a week after early release schemeon September 13, 2024 at 10:09 am

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

The drop follows the mass early release of offenders to deal with prison overcrowding this week.

Getty Images The stairs and corridor of HMP Portland in Dorset are pictured in 2014, with an unidentifiable police officer escorting a prisoner into their cell to the left of frame.Getty Images

The prison population in England and Wales has dropped by 2,188 in a week following the mass early release of offenders to deal with overcrowding.

There were some 88,521 prisoners as of 6 September – a record high with only 1.2% capacity left in the system.

But as of Friday, the number had fallen to 86,333, according to new Ministry of Justice figures.

An early release scheme came into effect earlier this week.

The scheme was initially worked on by the previous Conservative government but implemented by Labour. Around 1,700 prisoners were released on 10 September.

Offenders who had served 40% of their sentence were eligible. They would otherwise have been released after serving 50%.

Prisoners who were in jail for serious violent offences with sentences of four years or more, as well as sex offenders, were not released.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC last week that he did not want to be in a position of releasing people who should be in prison, but said the situation was at “crisis point”.

“We have to release people early because otherwise we’ll have an absolute crisis in our prisons,” he said.

Some victims’ advocates and the probation union have expressed concern about the scheme.

Napo probation union said it feared the scheme was a “ticking time bomb that could put public safety at risk”.

The domestic abuse commissioner has also called for prisoners to be excluded if they have been sentenced to any crime connected to domestic abuse.

Crimes such as stalking, controlling or coercive behaviours and breaches of restraining orders have been excluded, but others such as threats to kill have not been.

The prime minister said last week that risk assessments would ensure high-risk prisoners would not be released.

The prison population has been climbing steadily every week since 9 August, when it stood at 87,496.

The number of people in prison climbed after violent disorder broke out across England and Northern Ireland in late July and early August.

The disorder was fuelled by misinformation spread about the suspect in the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport on 29 July and anti-immigration sentiment.

As of 6 September, police had arrested 1,380 people and prosecutors had brought 863 charges in connection with the disorder, according to the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

Thin, red banner promoting the Politics Essential newsletter with text saying, “Get the latest political analysis and big moments, delivered straight to your inbox every weekday”. There is also an image of the Houses of Parliament

Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to read top political analysis, gain insight from across the UK and stay up to speed with the big moments. It’ll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

Sheffield murder inquiry: Man killed as car hit crowd ‘was Good Samaritan’on December 28, 2023 at 8:40 pm

Christian Marriott, 46, had been helping an unconscious woman when the car hit him and others.Image source, South Yorkshire PoliceA man who died after...

Meet Karenjeet Kaur Bains – the first Sikh female powerlifter to represent Great Britainon June 9, 2022 at 7:38 am

Karenjeet Kaur Bains talks to BBC Sport about being the first British Sikh woman to represent Great Britain in powerlifting at world level.

Rare ‘mother-of-pearl’ cloud spotted in Scotlandon January 30, 2023 at 8:24 am

Stunning Nacreous cloud captured by BBC Weather Watchers in Scotland.Stunning Nacreous cloud captured by BBC Weather Watchers in Scotland.

Curlews: Hidden camera captures life of endangered birdson June 7, 2022 at 7:24 am

A hidden camera has been installed close to a pair of curlew nests in the Antrim Hills.

No regrets! Pandemic purchases that made us happyon November 12, 2021 at 10:00 pm

Not everyone has buyer's remorse over what they bought in lockdown. For some, it changed their lives.