Dangerous prisoners including ‘stalker at risk to kids let out of jail early’

Dangerous prisoners including a domestic abuser who is a risk to children and has a history of stalking have had their release dates brought forward.

The Chief Inspector of Prisons has said the Tories’ plan to let out offenders up to 70 days early “was undermining good, safe release planning and risk management”. Charlie Taylor said resettlement agencies have had to scramble to redraw release plans for prisoners “from scratch in as little as two or three weeks”.

It has left offenders with restraining orders freed early or prisoners with drug problems being released into homelessness. Last week it emerged prisoners would be let out up to 70 days early as the country runs out of spare prison cells. The original early release scheme, which was introduced in October, planned for offenders to be released 18 days early. It was extended to 35-60 days in March.

Shadow Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “The Tories’ attempted cover-up of their prisoner early release scheme is unravelling. The public will rightly be worried to hear of cases where violent prisoners are being released without a proper assessment of the risk they pose to the public, and specifically children.”

Watch the Mirror’s new YouTube show Party Games as politicians spill secrets of being an MP

undefined

Join us for the Mirror’s new show Party Games as politicians spill the secrets of being an MP – while taking on the challenge of playing a well-known board game.

In the programme on the Mirror’s YouTube channel, familiar faces from across political spectrum will do battle with reporter Sophie Huskisson. At the same time they will face questions on who they are, what they stand for and why they became a politician.

In a relaxed tell-all chat over games including Kerplunk, Jenga and Snakes and Ladders, we hear about how they manage their work-life-balance, how they deal with social media trolls and about some of their worst and best times in Westminster.

Party Games is available now on the Mirror’s YouTube channel with new episodes every Monday at 6pm.

In his inspection report of HMP Lewes, East Sussex, Mr Taylor said: “The inspection of Lewes took place immediately after the introduction of the Government’s early release scheme and found that its implementation was undermining good, safe release planning and risk management. Release dates for some high-risk prisoners had been brought forward at short notice, forcing already stretched resettlement agencies to redraw existing plans from scratch in as little as two or three weeks.”

He said appeals were denied to keep prisoners in jails for longer to give time for plans to be finalised, adding: “Remarkably, homelessness was not a barrier to some of these early releases if it was judged that a further 18 days in prison was unlikely to allow for accommodation to be secured.”

Detailing examples he saw, Mr Taylor continued: “In one case, a high-risk prisoner who was a risk to children had his release date brought forward despite having a history of stalking, domestic abuse and being subject to a restraining order.

“Another high-risk prisoner with significant class A drug misuse issues and a recent history of suicidal thoughts and self-harm was released from the segregation unit to homelessness despite appeals for the decision to be reversed and staff having serious concerns for his and the public’s safety. He was recalled to custody before the inspection had ended.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “While we will always ensure there is enough capacity to keep dangerous offenders behind bars, this scheme allows us to ease short-term pressures on prisons by moving some lower-level offenders at the end of their custodial term on to licence. These offenders will continue to be supervised under strict conditions such as tagging and curfews, and the prison service can block the earlier release of any individual who poses a heightened risk.”

Logo-favicon

Sign up to receive the latest local, national & international Criminal Justice News in your inbox, everyday.

We don’t spam! Read our [link]privacy policy[/link] for more info.

Sign up today to receive the latest local, national & international Criminal Justice News in your inbox, everyday.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.