Around 700 prisoners set for early release in England and Wales
About 700 prisoners in England and Wales are due to be released early today, beginning a scheme intended to free more than 4,500 people by June. The releases have prompted criticism from opposition politicians and concern from a domestic abuse commissioner about public safety and protections for victims.
Those released include people serving sentences of up to 19 months, among them a man freed after seven weeks of a 20-week sentence for theft. The article says some eligible offences include domestic abuse, fraud and certain violent or sexual crimes; the scheme follows an earlier Labour early-release programme that reportedly freed more than 70,000 prisoners.
- Around 700 prisoners are being released early today.
- The scheme is expected to free more than 4,500 by June.
- Victim safeguards and public safety have drawn criticism.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “‘Thank you, Prime Minister!’: Inmates’ glee as Labour’s ‘shameful’ prison early release scheme kicks off with 700 inmates to walk free today”.