The first of hundreds of prisoners have walked free from jail as part of a controversial early release scheme. Groups of convicts left HMP Durham, Cardiff and Brixton this morning, with around 700 prisoners due to be let out of jail early.
Offenders serving sentences for fraud, domestic abuse and coercive control are now eligible for release after a third of their term in a move designed to free up prison space. Some prisoners appeared jubilant as they walked out onto the streets, with one heard shouting 'I'm free, freebie!'
Reactions from prisoners and critics
Another prisoner told reporters: 'Justice system, what justice system? Thank you Andy Burnham.' When one man was asked if he had a message for the Prime Minister, he said: 'Thank you very much and don't get me back here again bro.'
The Conservative Party has warned the government is putting the public at risk and called the release an 'insult to victims'. Domestic abuse survivors have also described their 'sheer terror' that their perpetrators will be released early.
Victim's account and political response
Helen Duncanson, whose ex-partner Michael Boyes pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and controlling and coercive behaviour, told the BBC she 'didn't sleep at night' when she first found out he would be released. She added: 'How dare they release these violent individuals? How do you, as a government, have the right to overrule a judge? That's my question and no one has been able to answer that.'
The early release scheme has been in the making since Labour came to power, with ministers warning the prison system was on the brink of collapse due to the shortfall in cell space. Uproar exploded over the summer when it was revealed that two men who were passengers in the car when PC Andrew Harper was killed in 2019 would be released early from prison.
Changes and ministerial justification
Andy Burnham was forced to announce changes to the plans to ensure PC Harper's killers and other prisoners convicted of manslaughter, rape and sex offences would not be freed early. Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Alex Norris said: 'Today we are introducing the toughest-ever range of tools to control prison leavers and better protect the public.'
'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.'
