Prison Crisis Sees 91 Inmates Wrongly Released Since April
Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy has revealed that 91 inmates have been wrongly set free since April this year, telling MPs that prisons throughout England and Wales are "operating under relentless strain". The disclosure comes as the government faces mounting pressure to address severe overcrowding in the criminal justice system.
Domestic Abuse Commissioner Warns of 'Devastating Consequences'
The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs, has issued a stark warning about the Sentencing Bill currently before parliament. In a letter to David Lammy seen by the Guardian, Jacobs stated that the legislation could allow violent partners to "return to harassing, stalking and abusing" their victims with impunity.
Jacobs emphasised that domestic abuse perpetrators who are recalled to prison are among the most dangerous offenders, explaining they are often fixated on their victims and know everything about them. The commissioner warned that automatically re-releasing these individuals after 56 days would send the wrong message to both victims and abusers.
Emergency Measures Made Permanent Amid System Strain
The bill aims to permanently implement emergency measures introduced in July to ease prison overcrowding. Under the proposed reforms:
- Most offenders recalled for breaching licence conditions would be automatically re-released after 56 days
- The need to appear before a parole board would be eliminated for standard recalls
- Only terrorists and criminals subject to enhanced risk management would be exempt
Current crime statistics reveal a 36% increase in total recalls compared with the same quarter in 2024, with approximately 75% involving non-compliance with license conditions and 23% relating to further offending.
Jacobs has called for amendments requiring domestic abuse perpetrators who contact their victims to undergo new risk assessment checks rather than automatic release. She argues that enhanced checks would prioritise victim safety by keeping the most dangerous abusers in prison until their risk has been properly assessed.
The Ministry of Justice defended the changes, stating they were recommended by the independent sentencing review and that probation staff would have more time to assess risks and implement robust safeguards under the new system.
