Some 700 convicted criminals are set to be released early from prison on Thursday. Domestic abuse victims are moving homes, changing jobs and installing security systems amid growing fears over Labour's early release scheme.
Labour has been accused of failing to protect victims, as stalkers, domestic abusers and violent thugs are set to be let out from prison after serving as little as a third of their sentence behind bars. Victims are being forced “to make their own plans to protect themselves” because “they simply do not trust” the safety measures being put in place.
Commissioner warns of 'shameful' failure
Ministers have promised a major expansion of tagging with a presumption that every prisoner freed will be fitted with one. But Domestic Abuse Commissioner Dame Nicole Jacobs said: “As the first perpetrators start to be released, survivors across the country will be looking over their shoulder and living in fear because the Government and our criminal justice system have failed to protect them.
“It is frankly shameful that as the scheme begins - which ministers have had months to prepare for - I still have no assurance that the danger perpetrators pose has been properly considered and assessed with meaningful input from victims and the specialist services supporting them.
“Many are now being forced to make their own plans to protect themselves, including uprooting their lives, because they simply do not trust that sufficient safeguards are in place to manage their abuser safely in the community.
“Ultimately, we cannot ignore the fact that the early release scheme has caused untold damage to victims’ confidence in the justice system. Especially when survivors are now likely to face a longer fight for justice than their perpetrator will spend in prison.”
Justice chiefs outline safeguards
Justice chiefs insist the “most dangerous offenders” can be confined to specific areas in so-called “restriction zones”. And thugs, stalkers and abusers could be banned from driving, attending public events or even going to the pub.
Some 1,350 crooks will be released in October. Labour had delayed the scheme by a month, to give officials more time to prepare. But many fear they will still be overwhelmed.
Justice chiefs are planning to release around 500 criminals early every month between October and February. The mass-releases are set to be in October, November and December amid fears over a prison overcrowding crisis. From March, roughly 200 offenders will be released early every month.
Shadow Justice Secretary condemns scheme
Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy told the Daily Express: “Labour’s early release scheme has left victims living in fear and it is utterly disgraceful that they have given the most vile criminals a ticket out of prison.
“They have had five different policies on this and have left victims guessing as to whether the perpetrators of the crimes against them will be let out.
“Abusers, human traffickers, stalkers, and predators will all soon be let loose on the streets and most of them will not even be tagged before they are freed.
“The Probation Service will be overwhelmed, the risk of absconding will rise, and victims will be put back at risk.
“Victims have been abandoned, and public safety has been put at risk. Labour must own the consequences of their reckless decision to free thousands of dangerous criminals, and we will never let them forget it.”
Justice Secretary Alex Norris conceded it could take 10 years to resolve the overcrowding crisis behind bars.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Domestic abuse has a profound and lasting impact on victims, and we are determined to stamp out these vile crimes – investing £1 billion in support services, placing domestic abuse specialists in 999 call centres and rolling out the strongest ever protection orders to keep victims safe.
“Within the first weeks of coming into office, we took action to keep more of the most dangerous criminals locked up, meaning that anyone in prison for rape, child sex abuse offences and manslaughter will now stay behind bars.
“We wanted to go further but, because of the prison crisis we inherited, doing so would risk the prison system collapsing – leaving police unable to arrest domestic abusers and putting victims in danger.
“Anyone who is released, faces the toughest-ever controls on their movements, including world-first restriction zones and the largest expansion of electronic tagging, with victims having a say in their preparators’ licence conditions.”
