“I’m gonna get lit” Thank you Keir.

MayBee70

This has been a ticking time bomb for years now. So how come Labour seem to getting all the blame for it?

They chose to do that.

New governments always get the blame and they always blame the previous government. That was how we got rid of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. (Although his grabbing from pension pots and ending of MIRAS couldn’t be blamed on anyone except his own party.)

That’s how we got rid of the Conservative Party this time, and that’s how we’ll eventually have another change of government in the future, although by acting to get rid of a lot of older people who, it’s claimed, always vote Tory, KS is trying to make sure that happens later rather than sooner.

Remember Mrs T saying things would get worse before getting better?

KS tried using that line. I notice he’s now dropped it and is phrasing it differently, but it means the same thing and it’s always the fault of the previous government.

If voters didn’t think the previous government weren’t doing a good job,
the new government would not win the election.

flappergirl

The prisons are overcrowded thanks to 14 years of Tory misrule. They promised new prisons and were warned by Police Chiefs that the situation was at breaking point, but they chose to ignore it. Their answer was not to imprison people that should be. So, the result is that more criminals have left Court with suspended sentences or community orders than ever before. The Tories had also planned exactly the same early release system as Labour.

If you're worried about the early release scheme, you should be even more worried about the criminals walking the streets who were given those suspended sentences under the Tories rather than being locked up.

It absolutely astounds me that some posters seem oblivious to the fact that prisons have been poised to explode for years. That the Tories reneged on their pledge to build more prisons. That thousands of criminals have been given suspended sentences and leave Court smirking their heads off. That Rishi Sunak received the direst warning about the situation and did nothing and that if the Tories had returned to power they would have implement the early release scheme. How can anyone not know any of this?

This is one absolutely clear issue where the problem was pre-existing, had been appalling for some time, and in fact the Conservatives had planned early release before the election. Why didnt they do this sooner? Why leave it?

Clearly obvious - dump the problem on the next government.

There are also procedures for deporting foreign prisoners that I quoted on another thread but these have also been under used since their inception as it depends on the country accepting the prisoner and they are complex time consuming procedures.

GrannyGravy13

I wonder why they didn’t start with deporting any foreign nationals that are in U.K. prisons?

Me too.
It costs a fortune to keep anyone in prison anyway.
I read not long ago that a particular European nationality* makes up a disproportionate percentage of prisoners - they could start with them.

*and no, I didn’t read that in the Daily Mail.

They are complex time consuming procedures it would seem, not to mention a lot of legal aid that foreign criminals appear to access. It's baffling to me why, when a host country has given sanctuary to those fleeing repressive regimes they should break the law and the trust and goodwill of the host country. I'm not trying to suggest that's new it's always been thus.

I agree but...its not unwillingness as such

Like I said, above, there are rules in place and have been for some time to deport foreign prisoners but the opportunities have been greatly under-used

as they require the relevant country to accept them on a case by case basis and they are very complex

And yes, we in theory would have to accept UK nationals in prison abroad - I have failed to be able to find the number.

TerriBull

They are complex time consuming procedures it would seem, not to mention a lot of legal aid that foreign criminals appear to access. It's baffling to me why, when a host country has given sanctuary to those fleeing repressive regimes they should break the law and the trust and goodwill of the host country. I'm not trying to suggest that's new it's always been thus.

I agree, but it's a fact of life that some UK prisoners abroad are in prison for sex or drug related crimes. Some do get transferred back to the UK to serve sentences, it depends on the country.

I would add that I absolutely accept there are genuine asylum seekers that are in fear of their lives and they need safe sanctuary. We remember the bad apples though, and the public's perception is that they remain here whatever through umpteen appeals. The relevant country where they emanated from probably don't want them back, if indeed they have their papers. All in all the feet dragging can go on in perpetuity.

TerriBull

I would add that I absolutely accept there are genuine asylum seekers that are in fear of their lives and they need safe sanctuary. We remember the bad apples though, and the public's perception is that they remain here whatever through umpteen appeals. The relevant country where they emanated from probably don't want them back, if indeed they have their papers. All in all the feet dragging can go on in perpetuity.

Yes, why again and again we pick out the bad apples and forget the genuine often quiet ones who settle and make a contribution. Of course the press do it for us.

Both main parties are responsible for the prison crisis. It hasn't happened overnight. Too easy for criminals to walk into the UK to continue their ways and eventually take up prison space and no decent alternatives to incarceration. Like our broken NHS and education system, neither have been kept updated and fit for purpose and now all the chickens are coming home to roost for prison, healthcare and schooling. Both parties are to blame.

Call me naive but I find it worrying. Where will the released prisoners go? Have they got jobs to go to? Have they got supportive families? We're going backwards in time - or are we? Felons used to be deported - and many did very well for themselves and became successful. It's a scary situation in my book - and I used to work in the probation service where the worse thing that happened was when I found my office turned upside down one morning

I am sorry but if anyone believed that things were going to get better with Labour then - well, they were extremely optimistic, to put it nicely. They talked about 'change' as politicians always do. They have a 'honeymoon period' when they can blame everything on the Conservatives. They have made space in the prisons by releasing dangerous criminals to incarcerate people who posted stuff the 'woke' set do not like, on Social Media, accusing them of incitement. By any other definition that is censorship. I do fear for our future, and my only hope is that the measures creeping in will make more people wake up to the totalitarian agenda that is being followed. Keir Starmer has said on video that he thinks Davos is more important than Westminster - THAT'S our PM. Heaven help us.

They have made space in the prisons by releasing dangerous criminals to incarcerate people who posted stuff the 'woke' set do not like, on Social Media, accusing them of incitement. By any other definition that is censorship"

Have you really forgotten the riots that hit so many cities? Of course hate filled, incendiary language and behaviour has to be held to account. Post suggesting bombing mosques..... Social media threats and incitements also included lists of home addresses of targets...... Nothing to do with "woke".

Space in prison had to be freed up for a whole number of other offences too

That post addressed to Undines just above.

The riots were organised online through social media. The false accusations on who stabbed the girls was made on social media.
We can't have rule by mob in our democracy.

Labour ALWAYS bring us to our knees I remeber the 70s candles and no electricity.

The father who picked up his son in his car intrigued me. He said if the son doesn't get his benefits through soon he'll have to go out stealing. Nice caring soul!

Janetel1956 , yes Labour always do, and then the Tories have to clear up the mess!

Skydancer said "There was little option and it is not violent offenders. Nobody panic!"

Actually those convicted of manslaughter, and domestic abuse (one man convicted of breaking his partners jaw!) have been released

There have indeed been violent offenders released. One man caused an injury to a month old baby. The child will have to have 24 our care. Numerous seizures. Life changing .

Another who beat up his girlfriend and threatened to throw acid in her face

A boy who supplied a machete to kill a teen

It's not great.

And I, and many others, are now experiencing the dreadful consequences of 14 years of Conservative austerity, with difficulties in health and welfare. Waiting lists, GP difficulties, cuts

And the mess we are in right now on the O/P topic. And picking out only "shock horror" stories, assuming all who leave prison are going to re-offend.

BBC I player newsfeed yesterday interviewed a number of different early release prisoners with very differing statements including "never again".

No one is defending any bad decisions. but it shouldn't have been allowed to reach this point.

a prisoner serving a 2year 8month sentence for stabbing to death a 14 year old boy in 2022, has been released after serving only 7 months.

I really imagined it would be people who were shoplifters, or those who had not paid bills who would be released.

The reason he was forced to do this is because so many people were disenfranchised under the Tories that ultimately they committed crime. Look at how those prisoners ended up in jail and you will see mental health issues and addiction caused by those issues. I hope there are suitable exit strategies in place because support is vital to prevent recidivism. I believe Keir is looking at the big picture, I don’t agree with everything but Labour are definitely putting plans in action and dragging us out of the mire the Tories left us in. I think that most people who disagree with their policies perhaps weren’t affected by the Tories. If you bought a house in the 1970s, were privileged enough to have a good steady job and are so secure that the only things you have to worry about are the winter fuel allowance and people being released from jail, then you have had a much more fortunate life than the generations after you.

Tony Blair also released prisoners early, Buttonjugs I don't think you can blame the last Conservative government for that.

This has been a problem for decades. Probably always will be.

Sago

I bet the Police and many victims of crime are seething today as hundreds of prisoners are released.

One young man Djaber Benallaoua announced he was “gonna get lit” to you and me that means to get high.
He was incarcerated for drug dealing.

This is a quick fix scheme that will have dire consequences further down the line.

I bet it’s only a matter of weeks before we are reading about the dreadful crimes committed by these men and women.

Get over it. They've solved a major problem just like the Home Secretary giving an amnesty to the 88,000 illegal immigrants has sorted that problem. This Labour government has put a new definition on blinkered policy making. The consequences will be much greater than the original problems and they won't be able to claim they inherited them from the Tories.