Thousands of prisoners in British jails were set to be released early on Tuesday as part of the government’s efforts to reduce overcrowding.
Recent data showed that the prison population in England and Wales had reached an all-time high.
However, amid concerns about the risk of reoffending, the government emphasized that violent offenders and domestic abusers would not be considered for early release.
Business Minister Jonathan Reynolds acknowledged the challenge of releasing 1,700 inmates, calling it a “difficult decision”.
The policy, according to Downing Street, aims to prevent “unchecked criminality”, as some newly convicted criminals have been spared jail due to a shortage of available prison spaces.
Reynolds attributed the issue to the previous Conservative government, which was ousted in July, stating that the decision to address prison overcrowding should have been made earlier but was neglected by the outgoing administration.
He described the state of the prison and justice systems as one of the most significant crises inherited by the new government.
Martin Jones, Chief Inspector of Probation, noted the extreme pressure on prisons, reporting that capacity was near 100%. He warned that reoffending is inevitable, as about a third of prisoners released each year commit new crimes within a year.
Reynolds reassured that the government had implemented safeguards to prevent the early release of violent criminals and domestic abusers.
The recent surge in prison numbers included individuals convicted of participating in anti-immigration riots across England, and the government confirmed that these offenders would not be exempt from the early release initiative.
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