Thousands of prisoners to be released, starting from today.

Was amazed yesterday to learn from mother of serving Army officer that civilian contractors are employed to recruit possible Service personnel. Very questionable to say the least according to what I was told

Why would that be questionable?

Ex-service personnel often enter public service after leaving or retiring, recruited by the Ministry of Justice on fast-track schemes because they have transferable skills, a good work ethic, reliability.

Tagging is/was useless. It was known as the British Rolex provided by civilian contractors. Easy to get off, apparently. Speaking of useless.... anything to do with civilian contractors and MoD. No overwatch. The Rachel Weiss film - Whistle-blower - a good example. Was amazed yesterday to learn from mother of serving Army officer that civilian contractors are employed to recruit possible Service personnel. Very questionable to say the least according to what I was told. Criminals also have unlimited tax payer funds to legal aid. Thanks to Tony Bliar. Keeps his lawyer cronies in a job - and his wife

The previous Conservative government — introduced the End of Custody Supervised Licence (ECSL) scheme in October 2023, initially releasing eligible prisoners up to 18 days early, later expanded to as much as 70 days.
As a previous poster said, the situation is more complex than it’s painted. Burnham inherited the last decision from
Shabana Mahmood under Keir Starmer’s Labour government.
It’s easy to read headlines or the Daily Mail and onto band wagons.
Having said that, it’s a very frightening thing to do. It makes me feel vulnerable as an older woman.

For all those moaning about it shouldn't happen, dangerous, when's the first victim going to be killed, etc, maybe try to look at facts, not emotive TV News yakking?

Prisoners now come out under 'Conditional Licence', with supervision. They can be instantly recalled for any breach.

Prisoners have for decades been coming out with substantial remission for 'good behaviour', this recent move for lesser-threat people just brings that forward a few months.

The comment(s) re sending foreigners back to their country of origin, well, who could argue against that? Over 10K of them, a variety of offences, get rid of them, and if they bleat about their partner, child, cat, dog, budgie whatever being deprived of their company, well, here's a simple suggestion, take them with you? And seize any property they have to defray expenses. If they wanted to come here, they shouldn't have become criminals? That's a lot of freed-up cells.

What we don't know is what percentage of those released early have been domestic abusers or similar. Without that information we can't begin to form any rational assessment if risk. And presumably most of them would be released anyway in a year or two: does that alter the risk?

The hidden reason for such a large prison population is that 57% of male inmates are functionally illiterate. Tackle this in education and we would be halfway to solving it.

We have to ask why so many in prison? Not why have we run out of space. So many are the result of mental health/ substance misuse cycle. Lack of prospects and deprivation. It’s not left -it’s humanism as opposed to lack of imagination. And empathy.
I could give figures and never cut and paste even though I’m way to the left.

If you have been voting for the Conservatives and austerity, you are responsible for austerity which has resulted in prisons not being built and the decimation of public services. Oh and a little further back for selling off council houses and privatisation of water and many other essential services. I don't know how you live with yourselves. And you still want to pay less tax, how selfish.

Maybe if appropriate help was given on release?

Okdokey08

Agree with Cossy, this is not an AB issue, it’s a systemic problem that has been ignored for years. It’s not ideal, but will less so if due to lack of space they put serious murderers, rapists etc, up in hotels or empty building's in the community till they have room to transfer them to a prison… there would be another “outcry” from the public.
The fear placed on people who have been affected by abusers, is not on the scale of understanding, and none of us can offer an assurance or guarantee, and this in itself is the crux of the matter, innocent people are now being placed back into a state of fear through no fault of their own. They feel the justice system has failed them, but it’s those in power with nothing to fear (aka ruling governments) that have failed in their duty.
The tagging is most an ashtray in a motorbike exercise, on a “Hope it works” basis.. a “better than nothing” appeasement for the public, but again, I have no alternative, as the only alternative (ie jail) that was in place to protect the victims, and potentially more victims to come, has failed.
I also believe that for many of these people who are leaving jail in these current times, with low employment and high cost of living, that jail could be a better alternative for them than being outside, offering shelter, 3 meals a day, gym, pool, clothing, a job for minimal wages, TV in every cell, courses and education, immediate access to healthcare..and so on… so sadly some of them once they get over the initial enthusiasm of getting out, might be tempted to look for ways to get back in… I hope not

I know that all prisons arent exactly salubrious. Think the old Strangeways.

But l'm sure some are. Rumour had it that when HMP Forest Bank was first opened for young offenders.

It was like a TUI 4 Star All Inclusive Hotel. The staff couldn't do enough for the poor inmates

I also bet there is an something like an unofficial version of TripAdvisor for prisoners.

Where they can rate their stay and give advice on their crimes, legal representation and court case and how to get a reduced sentence.

It will be interesting to see how many of the early release wallahs reoffend and receive yet another custodial sentence.

But there again there will probably
still not be enough prison places
Could just become a revolving door where they could commit as many crimes when the fancy takes them, and never be punished?

Or perhaps if these early release naughty boys really changed their ways and did not regress to type once released for a number of years. Maybe they could get some extra support to behavevin a good way. You know in a way that responsible, decent, honest everyday people do .

For those who are really interested in how bad the tagging system is.

Seen 'Undercover: The Great Tagging Scandal'? Watch it here on Channel 4:

www.channel4.com/programmes/undercover-the-great-tagging-scandal?cntsrc=social_share_ios_undercover_the_great_tagging_scandal

It beggars belief that this situation has come about. Can see a time when there will be no prison sentences of the Wokes and Bleeding Heart Liberals have their way. Their will be no such thing as crime!

Saw a TV interview a few weeks ago and some official said that were several thousand people being held on remand. That the situation could be helped if some of then they were released.

As for foreign prisoners. I wouldn't have them in prison in the first They should have been deported as soon as they were found guilty. Just a bunch of scum.

Also these foreign prisoners have now cottoned on to the massively ever growing Human Rights and Asylum Seeker, Refuge Gravy Train.

And will try and get leave to remain and UK Citizenship on some kind of made up, false or tenuous grounds.

sundowngirl

"Oh give the new pm a break,he can't tackle everything at once"

Perhaps he should prioritise rather than concerning himself with lack of beer in the stands at football matches

I’d bet the farm that he is capable of thinking of more than one issue.

Agree with Cossy, this is not an AB issue, it’s a systemic problem that has been ignored for years. It’s not ideal, but will less so if due to lack of space they put serious murderers, rapists etc, up in hotels or empty building's in the community till they have room to transfer them to a prison… there would be another “outcry” from the public.
The fear placed on people who have been affected by abusers, is not on the scale of understanding, and none of us can offer an assurance or guarantee, and this in itself is the crux of the matter, innocent people are now being placed back into a state of fear through no fault of their own. They feel the justice system has failed them, but it’s those in power with nothing to fear (aka ruling governments) that have failed in their duty.
The tagging is most an ashtray in a motorbike exercise, on a “Hope it works” basis.. a “better than nothing” appeasement for the public, but again, I have no alternative, as the only alternative (ie jail) that was in place to protect the victims, and potentially more victims to come, has failed.
I also believe that for many of these people who are leaving jail in these current times, with low employment and high cost of living, that jail could be a better alternative for them than being outside, offering shelter, 3 meals a day, gym, pool, clothing, a job for minimal wages, TV in every cell, courses and education, immediate access to healthcare..and so on… so sadly some of them once they get over the initial enthusiasm of getting out, might be tempted to look for ways to get back in… I hope not

There are any number of elderly life sentence prisoners still there because of the cost of care when they are released, but they really do not need "guarding".

There are also thieves, dangerous drivers, fraudsters who might well be better to release to make the space, perhaps?

polnan

I admit my failings, I lose patience with Governments of whatever colour,, and here also, what good does it do when we express our opinions here.

so, here is where I am at now,,, Governments and this present Governments position appears to be that it is far more important to think and discuss for example..Brexit... argh! why can`t they get real and deal with the most important matters first? o.k perhaps I am a simpleton.

Do you really think that governments only think of one issue.
Why do you think we have ministers who then have large departments that discuss/ amend? the remit that the said minister has been given.

Maybe they could release people first who are not a danger to the public. There may be people who have just sent a nasty comment on line who were angry and just venting and would not commit a violent act when released.

Kemi has announced building new prisons and cutting foreign aid to pay for them. Excellent idea, look after our own country first.

I think we have to accept that most of this country's infrastructure has been woefully left to decline by successive government's.Money from our oil and gas frittered away.We are left with a decaying country at a time when there is little money for investment.I am sorry I seem to feel there is so much politics in the replies rather than accepting no one group are to blame

For those who are calling for foreign prisoners to be deported, do you intend them then to free to re-offend in their own countries? We surely have a duty to protect all potential victims of their crimes, not just ours. Or do other nations have magically empty prisons of their own? I'm pretty sure rising crime rates are all over the world, not just here.

So say all of us

Sago

I feel for the victims, imagine knowing your rapist/abuser is back out on the streets.

This country is done.

Rapists aren’t going to be released. In any case there are many rapists walking the streets who have never been convicted.

It does, and the evidence is there that the mess is down to the previous government, and the ones before, regarding prisons.

This Labour government has a lot to answer for.

What about it DizzyDenise? The government has committed to moving migrants from hotel accommodation, but there are no magic wands to make that happen immediately. 44 have closed so far, more to follow.