The domestic abuse charity Refuge has warned that Labour's plan to ease prison overcrowding must not allow high-risk offenders to walk free, after mistakes under the previous government. The new government is expected to authorise emergency measures this week that could see criminals automatically released after serving between 40% and 45% of their sentence.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has been told the move is necessary to prevent prisons in England and Wales running out of space as early as next week. However, Refuge raised concerns after early-release schemes under the Tories freed several people jailed for domestic abuse, with one high-risk inmate at HMP Lewes released early despite a history of stalking and domestic abuse.
The charity demanded assurances that those convicted of violence against women and girls (VAWG) offences will be exempt from the scheme. A spokesperson said: 'When considering options for the early release scheme, we need assurances from the government that those convicted of VAWG offences will be exempt.'
Probation officers have told the Guardian that high-risk prisoners are being regularly let out without enough time for safeguarding checks. Sexual, violent and terror-related offenders are supposed to be excluded from the proposal, but domestic abusers could still be allowed to walk away with no notice given to their victims.
Ministers could also trigger Operation Early Dawn, a crisis measure that allows offenders to be housed in police cells when jails are full. The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said there was no 'quick fix' and blamed the Tories for a 'scorched-earth policy' of failing to build prisons.
In Scotland, long-term prisoners could be released after serving two-thirds of their sentence under separate government plans. A consultation published on Monday suggested returning to the policy from before February 2016, with over 500 inmates already released early.
