1100 prisoners to be released today.

Prisoners have been sent to jail for a reason. If there is no space for new offenders we must either build new prisons or open those not being used. There's one on the Isle of Wight and Reading prison.

Fee people really need incarceration.

Did this man, who carried a placard, called the police ‘scum’ and made some offensive, racist comments, really need to be incarcerated for two years and eight months?

Surely a community order would have been more appropriate?

I am largely with you on this Cossy but we should be doing more about rehabilitation and education.

Give people skills, hope and support as well as "punishment".
Let them make a contribution and they will start to feel better about themselves and live up to their own dreams.
Few people really need incarceration.

When I worked with ex-offenders I definitely felt that the ones that "did best" had lots of support.

I agree and given they came into power after an early unexpected election in July, followed immediately by the long parliamentary summer break have had little time in which to resolve the many outstanding problems we have,

I think with extremely limited prison spaces Labour are between a rock and a hard place.

This whole releasing prisoners early was started by the Tories, Labour have simply followed through and knocked a percentage off the time needed to be served.

Blame both govts if you don’t agree.

Personally? I think we have far more people in prisons than required, prisons are overcrowded awful places for both prisoners and staff.

I firmly believe only those committing violent or sexual crimes, the remainder should be penalised using the proceeds of crime act and then serve reparation type community service, for a long time!

Yes silverlining you’re right that it’s unusual normally for a first offender to get a custodial sentence, but with regard to the riots, we also know that many first offenders have indeed received prison sentences, notably a woman who wrote a post on Facebook encouraging people to join in the riots, which she took down two hours later. She was convicted (not sure of the offence) and is now in prison, I think, but not sure, for three months. It was her first offence! Did she really need to go to prison? Well either Keir Starmer thinks so, or the judiciary are interpreting his words too strongly. It’s one or the other!

This man was convicted because he was calling the police ‘scum’ and carrying a placard and making racist remarks, saying police were protecting rapists. He lived in Rotherham which of course has its own particular history with respect to grooming gangs, and maybe that history coloured his view. We don’t know. The fact remains that a man who behaved badly, but not violently, was given an extraordinarily long sentence, which has resulted in him taking his own life.

It’s very sad.

What choices are there on the slightly earlier release to 40% from 50% when there is literally no room for some very serious offenders indeed currently in the system?

There is no choice.

That doesn't mean to say that proper scrutiny of the early releases should not be carried out, it most certainly should.

Sarnia you say, "I have a family member working on prison expansion to increase the prison population. 4 prisons have been identified but getting past that stage is proving nigh on impossible because obstacles are out in their way by.................The Government! You couldn't make it up."

I'm not aware of news on this front - what are the obstacles being put in their way?

No I don’t think shouting scum at police deserves 2 years in prison but none of us know the history if any, behind this.
It’s Very unusual to get a prison sentence as a first offender unless serious and of course, these riots were spreading fast.

TheWeirdo I seem to have missed a lot here - where is your info about releasing rapists and animal abusers from please?

Does anyone have the details?

This Government give me the feeling that they are rushing things through without thorough consultation and consideration on the possible effects their decisions may have. They think that doing this will give the impression of a dynamic, active Government. Well, it doesn't. The early release of prisoners is a case in point. Too many mistakes were made with the first batch allowed out early and as much as I hate the phrase 'Lessons will be learned' I doubt Labour has learned anything if at all from that. I have a family member working on prison expansion to increase the prison population. 4 prisons have been identified but getting past that stage is proving nigh on impossible because obstacles are out in their way by.................The Government! You couldn't make it up.

I understand the need to free up spaces in prisons being they're over-crowded but I can't understand why they release animal abusers, rapists etc. instead of non-violent but they'll happily jail you for the most ridiculously small things!

silverlining48

We all must know that for many years most prisoners are already released after serving 50% of their term so though not ideal is presumably necessary in order to send more serious offenders into prison .

Is shouting ‘scum’ at the police a more serious offence though.
Obviously it’s not nice, in fact it’s horrible, but more serious? Really?

From my understanding of the interview it was the offences that counted, not the offender, and his offences were not deemed to be serious enough to bar him from early release. Elizabeth Hudson said she had been notified of his early release, and she had written to three authorities (do not know which) and had received no response.
Shabana Mahmood seemed very ill-informed.
I cannot check my facts as it was a live interview on ITV but no doubt information will be available later.

If you are on license you can (technically) be recalled for any wrongdoing.
It may be something very minor.

Rosie51
From what I understood it was a reduction of 10%
So if you were given 5 years by the courts you would previously have been eligible for release (all other things being equal) at the midway point - so 2½ years. This 50% time served is being reduced to 40% so in the case above, that would be 6 months "earlier" at 2 years.

These people will all be on licence and have specific conditions.
They will include cooperation with probation, may include not going to certain places, engaging with drug/alcohol services, living in a certain property etc. They will almost certainly all be having to wear an ankle monitor with a curfew.

We have no idea how many of the earlier release (was it in July/August?) have committed new offences.

What we do know is the recall rates are apparently the same as any other released offenders/ex-offenders in the same timeframe - so that at least is good news (as far as it goes, obviously).

We all must know that for many years most prisoners are already released after serving 50% of their term so though not ideal is presumably necessary in order to send more serious offenders into prison .

eazybee

Just watched a very angry Richard Madely and Susanna Reid interview Shabana Mahmood , who apparently believes early release is allowed on the offences committed, not on the offender. She was not aware of the protest by Elizabeth Hudson, whose ex-husband is one to be released early. His offences, holding a knife to her throat and threatening violence, subjected to a restraining order,don't qualify as being serious enough to remain in prison, as Ms Mahmmod smilingly said, but she will go back to the office and 'find out.' Jolly good.
Why has this prison release scheme been authorised so quickly when a launch of a six month review is only being launched today?

I hadn't read about this but just looked it up and apparently it's a "loophole" and it's by no means certain that he'll be released.

What is the "loophole" that may see Martin Underwood released 3 months early?
Is it because he was in for a different crime this time (having already served the time for her knife attack)?

Does anyone have the actual info please?
I don't understand.

“Going to hell in a handcart” springs to mind…🤨

It’s been all over the news about Peter Lynch. I saw a clip of his offences last night. He was filmed holding a placard and shouting ‘scum’ at the police. Apparently although shouting abuse, he was not violent and not convicted of violence. I thought the two year and eight months sentence extremely long for such an offence.
Does anyone know if he had a record already?

This Government is crazy - and thoughtless!
All talk and no proper action - and no consideration of the people

Meanwhile Peter Lynch the grandfather with a heart condition sentenced to two years eight months for holding a placard denigrating the police and shouting abuse during the summer riots, killed himself in jail on Saturday.

eazybee

Just watched a very angry Richard Madely and Susanna Reid interview Shabana Mahmood , who apparently believes early release is allowed on the offences committed, not on the offender. She was not aware of the protest by Elizabeth Hudson, whose ex-husband is one to be released early. His offences, holding a knife to her throat and threatening violence, subjected to a restraining order,don't qualify as being serious enough to remain in prison, as Ms Mahmmod smilingly said, but she will go back to the office and 'find out.' Jolly good.
Why has this prison release scheme been authorised so quickly when a launch of a six month review is only being launched today?

I saw that interview, typical Government Minister, saying the same thing over and over trying to waste time.

I lost count how many times she said pull the lever

Elizabeth Hudson, just another women who Labour do not care about!

Grandmabatty without a timescale and further information that 10,000 figure is too ambiguous for a meaningful comparison. Were they released a day early, a year early, over the course of one week, or over a year?

I understand the necessity to free up some space, but hope the authorities are better prepared this time so mistakes aren't made.