Career criminals thanked Andy Burnham as they admitted they will commit more offences, after being let out of prison early. Survivors and campaigners warned the country is “being run by clowns” as 700 convicted thugs, thieves, stalkers and domestic abusers walked free.
Prisoners were released with nowhere to go on a day of chaos for Labour, with victims fearing for their lives as louts admitted they’ll be back behind bars within weeks. Some were arrested within minutes of walking out of prison gates, with police officers waiting for them.
Prisoner taunts Burnham
One prisoner, dressed in shorts, a T-shirt and trainers and holding his belongings in a bin bag, brazenly declared as he left HMP Durham: “Justice system, what justice system? Thank you Andy Burnham.”
And one thief with more than 360 previous convictions admitted he is going to go “stealing again”. David Elliott, who was let out of HMP Brixton, said: “I'm 50. I've been in and out of jail all my life. I've got 360 convictions…I've got an addiction to stealing.”
Pointing to the prison, he said: “This didn't help me”. Asked what he was going to do next, Elliott said: “I'm gonna go stealing again…whatever I get, whatever I get.”
Victims speak out
Rachel Williams, who was shot by her violent partner, warned the criminal justice system is “constantly” letting victims of domestic abuse down. Survivors are moving homes, changing jobs and installing security systems. One has even said they are emigrating so they can feel safe.
Ms Williams, the founder of Stand up to Domestic Abuse, told Times Radio: “Sometimes I wake up and if I'm totally honest, I feel like I'm in a circus and the country's being run by clowns because domestic abuse is not rocket science. The criminal justice system is constantly letting us down. We're sick of lip service and we deserve better.
“When you've got somebody who's got a mindset of power and control, you know, could be in their thirties, forties, fifties, you can't change that mindset very quickly at all.
“I do believe that prisons shouldn't be warehouses, we should be trying to rehabilitate those that want the help but at the end of the day, when you commit an abhorrent act, like domestic abuse and all the ugly facets that come with it you should have a lengthy sentence.”
Fears of revenge
Claire Milne's ex-husband, Robert Dales, was convicted in March this year of coercive control and possessing offensive weapons, including samurai and ninja swords. She said: "There were threats to kill, there was punching of doors, punching of walls. I trod on egg-shells throughout the entire relationship and it was almost like I had to coach myself into what to say just to ensure there wouldn't be an escalation.
"I am scared that he will come after me. I don't want to die," she said. "I am not a silly woman - I know that I've been in a very high-risk domestic abuse relationship and I know what he's capable of because I lived it."
Ministers have promised a major expansion of tagging with a presumption that every prisoner freed will be fitted with one. Some 4,500 criminals will be let out early, under Ministry of Justice plans. And 2,500 will be home in time for Christmas. Some 1,350 of these are expected to be let out over the coming weeks. Tens of thousands of criminals will now only have to serve a third of their sentence behind bars.
Prisoners admit reoffending
Convicted burglar Paul, who refused to give his surname, warned it is “scary” how normalised violence against women and girls is behind bars. The 40-year-old said: "There are people in there that shouldn't be getting out. They are sitting around saying, ‘wait until I grab this girl’.
“Now everyone is sitting there having conversations about it like it is nothing. It's disgusting."
Adam Marcello, 39, leaving HMP Brixton with a bike helmet, was hoping his bike would still be where he left it eight months ago. He said: “Everyone's going to come back to prison.”
Tom, who also refused to give his surname after being jailed for burglary, admitted he’ll “probably” end up in prison again soon. He said: “I think it’s sh-- to be honest with you.
“I’d happily spend my time in there, I mean, I’ve been doing it for 17 years. I’ll probably be back in the next month or two.
“It’s like a reset for me, this is. I get out, I take beer, drugs… Go back in, put a bit of weight on, do it all again.
“I got nothing better to do with myself, I’m homeless, so what else am I going to do? You can’t be homeless and sober at the same time.”
Niall Lynn, 34, who was let out of HMP Berwyn in Wrexham, after serving 30 weeks of an 18 month sentence, said: “The sentences are super-lax now. You could kill someone and get out a few years later, no problem.”
Support and government response
The charity Victim Support has launched a national helpline for people worried about their perpetrators being released from prison earlier than expected. Katie Kempen, chief executive at Victim Support, said: "Victims and survivors have already endured the trauma of crime and often a far too long and distressing journey through the justice system. To then learn that an offender may be released earlier than expected will bring renewed anxiety, fear and uncertainty for many — and no one should be left to navigate that alone.
Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin told Mr Burnham that lives are in danger. She said: “You are not prioritising the safety of women in this country.
“I know from 20 years as a magistrate what it takes, these victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence, to actually bring their perpetrators to court.
“Women are often in tears, absolutely terrified, just giving evidence, and what you're seeing today in this early release scheme is many of those type of offenders being released onto the streets early, without being monitored, because a lot of them are coming out untagged, despite the Government saying they would be tagged, free to roam, free to go and find their victims, and free to take revenge.”
Justice Secretary Alex Norris said: “We understand the anxiety victims face ahead of offenders’ release dates, but the greatest danger to victims would be prisons running out of cells for dangerous criminals, which was the crisis this Government inherited.
“Our plan will make sure this never happens again by building 14,000 prison places while subjecting offenders to the toughest-ever controls, leaving them nowhere to hide and under no doubt that we are watching them.”
