Early prison release scheme gets underway amid capacity crisis

The emergency measures are part of an attempt to ease overcrowding, as ITV News Anushka Asthana reports

Hundreds of prisoners are being freed early in a bid to cut overcrowding in England and Wales jails.

Some 1,700 prisoners are expected to be released on Tuesday in addition to the around 1,000 prisoners normally freed each week.

Hundreds more are due to be freed early next month in the second stage of the scheme.

The policy will not apply to those convicted of sex offences, terrorism, domestic abuse or some violent offences.

Even with the lower 40% automatic release, it is expected to only fix the problem for 18 months.

Wayne, a former inmate at Berwyn Prison, in Wrexham, was among those prisoners released early on Tuesday.

He was released from the north Wales prison three months early, where he had been serving a sentence for vehicle theft.

Speaking to ITV News, he described the prison as being "really overcrowded", with "high-risk" inmates housed with the low-risk population.

Wayne added that he worried for some inmates who, he says, were only told of their early release "in the last few days" and who have "got no support".

Wayne, who was released early from a prison in Wrexham, told ITV News he was incarcerated in 'really overcrowded' conditions

On the other end of the spectrum, victims of prisoners who are to be released early have voiced their concerns.

Elizabeth Hudson ,whose abusive ex-husband was jailed after threatening to kill her and attacking another woman, says it is a "kick in the teeth" that he will be released early.

Ex-army sergeant Martin Underwood was sentenced to six years and three months in prison in February of last year.

But Ms Hudson received a letter from the Ministry of Justice outlining plans to release him as early as the end of this year.

She said: "[It was] just like another kick in the teeth from a system that hasn't done enough to protect me all along.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood told broadcasters the decision to release some prisoners early is not one the government "wanted to make, but it was the only option left on the table because the alternative would have seen the total collapse of the criminal justice system in this country".

She said ministers have tried to "implement this change in a way that maximises public protection".

The prisons watchdog has warned it is "inevitable" some of those being released would re-offend.

Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor said: "It's inevitable that some of these prisoners will get recalled to custody and it's inevitable that some of them will go out homeless."

A Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesperson, in response to concerns that some prisoners could end up homeless, said it is "important for offenders to have a roof over their head when they leave prison".

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood explains why the decision has been made

"That is why the Prison and Probation Service has basic housing for offenders who would otherwise be forced to sleep on the streets with additional ad hoc arrangements only to be used as an absolute last resort," the spokesperson added.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mahmood said that "budget hotels" are among the temporary arrangements that she has authorised probation directors to use, where deemed necessary.

Last week, the prison population in England and Wales hit 88,521 - the highest level ever recorded - having risen by 1,025 people over the past four weeks.

Without any changes, it was predicted there would be almost 100,000 prisoners by 2025.

The official usable capacity is currently 88,895, but several new jails are being built and the Labour government has promised to increase construction.

The sharp rise is likely to have been driven by the number of people remanded in custody or given jail sentences following the recent disorder across parts of the country.

Who is being released from jail early? ITV News Reporter Sangeeta Kandola explains

In July, Mahmood announced plans to cut the proportion of sentences inmates must serve behind bars from 50% to 40% as the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said overcrowding had pushed jails to the "point of collapse".

At Sir Keir Starmer's first press conference as prime minister, he spent a considerable amount of time criticising the previous government for handing his administration a prison system in crisis.

He said the whole system was "broken" and he would have to approach how he dealt with it with "raw honesty".

Domestic abuse charities have warned that the scheme may come at the expense of women and children's safety, while others have raised concerns that it would push probation services to breaking point.

Jessica Eagelton, head of policy and public affairs at Refuge, saying the "the early release exemption list will not include all domestic abuse offenders, for example, those charged with common assault".

She said the list does not include domestic abusers who are currently serving sentences for different crimes.

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After his election victory last week, Sir Keir appointed Lord James Timpson OBE, of Timpson shoe repairs, as prison's minister.

Lord Timpson has advocated for employing former prisoners and reforming the UK's prison system.

Last year, the Timpsons boss told a Channel 4 podcast that "only a third of inmates should actually be in jail", and the country is "addicted to punishment".

The previous government under Rishi Sunak triggered emergency measures to tackle the crisis, including allowing some prisoners to be released up to 70 days early.

Initially, the End of Custody Supervised License Scheme (ECSL) involved inmates being released up to 18 days early.

That was then extended to between 35 and 60 days in March, and further extended to 70 days in May.

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