Thousands of prisoners in British jails were set to be released early on Tuesday as part of a government initiative to address severe overcrowding. Recent statistics revealed that the prison population in England and Wales had reached an all-time high.
In response to concerns about the potential for released prisoners to reoffend, the government has emphasized that early release will not apply to violent offenders or domestic abusers. Business Minister Jonathan Reynolds described the decision to release approximately 1,700 prisoners as “difficult” but necessary.
Downing Street justified the policy by citing the need to prevent “unchecked criminality,” where newly convicted criminals might be spared jail time due to lack of available prison spaces. Reynolds criticized the previous Conservative government, which was voted out in July, for not addressing the issue sooner. “Of all the scandals we inherited, the prison system and the justice system are probably the worst,” Reynolds said.
Chief Inspector of Probation Martin Jones highlighted the extreme pressure on the prison system, noting that the population is nearly at full capacity. “Prisons are absolutely close to 100 percent capacity,” Jones told. He also warned that it is “a certainty that some will reoffend,” given that around a third of individuals released from prison each year commit further offenses within a year.
Reynolds reassured the public that stringent protections are in place, stating, “No violent offenders, no domestic abusers will be eligible” for early release. He also noted that the early release plans do not exclude those convicted of participating in anti-immigration riots across England, despite the unrest contributing to the increased prison population.
