A prisoner was re-arrested moments after walking free from Wandsworth Prison this morning under the early release scheme. British Transport Police took the man back into custody as he stood outside the jail.
Around 700 eligible offenders will leave prisons across England and Wales throughout the day, with 2,550 due to be released by the end of the year. The government says the plan is needed to free up space in overcrowded jails.
Early releases begin across England and Wales
Some prisoners have served just a third of their sentences, for crimes including domestic abuse and some sexual offences. Andy Burnham has defended the scheme despite fierce opposition, saying anyone found guilty of rape, serious child sexual offences and grooming will be blocked.
One prisoner leaving HMP Durham in north east England, dressed in shorts, a T-shirt and trainers and holding his belongings in a bin bag, said: "Justice system, what justice system? Thank you Andy Burnham."
James Ashford, 21, was serving 12 months for carrying an offensive weapon. He served four months and was greeted outside by family. Asked about the early release scheme, he said: "It’s good. I think it helps people back into the community rather than spending a long time inside and coming out. It’s hard to come back out the longer you’ve spent in there." Asked what he has to say to the Prime Minister, he responded: "Thanks mate!"
Reactions from released prisoners and families
Another man leaving HMP Cardiff, asked if he had a message for the Prime Minister, said: "Thank you very much and don't get me back here again, bro."
One woman had been waiting for her boyfriend since 7am. She embraced him as he left the Category C prison, which holds young adult males. She said her boyfriend, wearing a durag and holding a dark blue bag, had been imprisoned for "nothing too serious" - though neither would speak following his release, and would not confirm whether he was one of those eligible for early release.
The prison population in England and Wales was 87,499 on Monday, according to Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data. This is up from 85,761 on June 29 - a rise of 1,738, or 2%. The MoJ said released offenders will be monitored under the "toughest supervision in British history".
Supervision and future plans
Victims commissioner Claire Waxman warned that the Government's confidence in the plan "is not yet matched by the reality on the ground".
The early release scheme is needed to prevent the justice system from collapsing, after a summer when the issue dominated news headlines. After changes, criminals will be excluded from the scheme if they have been jailed for a range of offences, including members of child grooming gangs convicted of indecent assault.
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."
