Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson has revealed that 22% of prisoners released early in his area in October have already been detained again, describing the situation as a “real problem” for his officers.
Speaking about Labour's early release scheme, Sir Stephen said: “The fact of the matter is 22% of everybody that's been released [in October] are already back inside in Greater Manchester.”
He added: “We're talking about highly recidivist people, so I'm not going to stand here and say this is an entirely good thing. This is, of course, a real problem for us.”
Concerns over public safety
Sir Stephen noted that while extra prison space is being built, work with partners is needed to mitigate the risk to the public. He said: “I just hope that we get to a more rational place where those who should be in prison go to prison and there are spaces to retain them for as long as they deserve.”
A convicted criminal released on Tuesday in the third tranche of mass releases said inmates are seeing people returning after being let out last month. The unnamed prisoner, speaking as he left HMP Brixton, said: “I got a letter under my door and obviously I heard that Andy Burnham was releasing people early from prison.”
He added: “But it's not seeming to be working because what's happening is people have been getting recalled. It's not down to the prison, it's down to them being late, not signing on – if you miss one appointment you're in straight away.”
Third wave of releases
Another 650 criminals were released on Wednesday, with some having served only a third of their sentences. Offenders convicted of affray, burglary, domestic abuse and stalking were among those released, as well as some violent offenders convicted of wounding, grievous bodily harm with intent or lower-end firearms charges.
Labour freed 1,350 prisoners early in two waves last month, although many have already been recalled to prison.
Reform MP Sarah Pochin arrived outside HMP Wandsworth as the third wave of early releases began on Tuesday morning. She said she was there because she felt “so strongly about the safety of women now at risk because of the early release of these prisoners, many of which will be domestic violence perpetrators”.
Asked how to tackle overcrowding, she said: “One very easy solution, which the Reform Party would do if we get into government next time, is immediately empty all of our prisons of the foreign national offenders.” She added: “We would deport them back to their country of origin.”
