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Jail inmates 'to be freed early' Jail inmates 'to be freed early'
(about 1 hour later)
Non-violent offenders could be let out of jail early in a bid to ease prison overcrowding in England and Wales.Non-violent offenders could be let out of jail early in a bid to ease prison overcrowding in England and Wales.
Lord Falconer, head of the new Ministry of Justice (MoJ), is expected to announce plans to combat overcrowding next week. Lord Falconer, head of the new Ministry of Justice (MoJ), is expected to announce plans to combat overcrowding this week.
Reports in the Times said "up to 2,000 prisoners serving less than four years" would be affected.Reports in the Times said "up to 2,000 prisoners serving less than four years" would be affected.
Last month, Lord Falconer told Sky News that he would not be announcing early releases to ease pressure on prisons.Last month, Lord Falconer told Sky News that he would not be announcing early releases to ease pressure on prisons.
A Whitehall source has told the BBC the justice secretary is likely to say some non-violent offenders nearing the end of sentences are to be freed early.
They were likely to be "burglars, fraudsters and drug dealers" but not "offenders convicted of violent or sex crimes", the Times newspaper said.
An MoJ spokeswoman would neither confirm nor deny an early release plan.
Release conditions
Jails in England and Wales are at bursting point - on Monday the prison population was 80,977 - 481 from capacity.
Just over a month into his new job in charge of the MoJ, Lord Falconer is understood to be working on what some will consider to be a drastic solution.
PRISON FACTS AND FIGURES About 147 people per 100,000 are in prison in England and Wales - the highest proportion in Western EuropeThe prison population has almost doubled from about 41,000 in 1993More than 17,000 prison spaces have been created since 1997 - a further 8,000 are plannedMore than half of prisoners serve less than six months, and one in five is held on remandAbout two thirds of released prisoners are reconvicted within two years
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said Lord Falconer would not be announcing Early Executive Release, under which the home secretary has the right to release prisoners.BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said Lord Falconer would not be announcing Early Executive Release, under which the home secretary has the right to release prisoners.
Instead, it would be some kind of release scheme for low-risk, non-violent prisoners approaching the end of their sentences, possibly a week or two before they were due to be released, our correspondent added. Our correspondent said the justice secretary was likely to announce some form of release scheme for low-risk, non-violent prisoners approaching the end of their sentences.
PRISON FACTS AND FIGURES About 147 people per 100,000 are in prison in England and Wales - the highest proportion in Western EuropeThe prison population has almost doubled from about 41,000 in 1993More than 17,000 prison spaces have been created since 1997 - a further 8,000 are plannedMore than half of prisoners serve less than six months, and one in five is held on remandAbout two thirds of released prisoners are reconvicted within two years
It would involve some kind of monitoring or release conditions but probably not tagging.It would involve some kind of monitoring or release conditions but probably not tagging.
The Times said the affected prisoners were likely to be "burglars, fraudsters and drug dealers" but not "offenders convicted of violent or sex crimes".
Details for the scheme, which is believed to have been discussed with Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown, are yet to be finalised.Details for the scheme, which is believed to have been discussed with Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown, are yet to be finalised.
An MoJ spokeswoman would neither confirm nor deny an early release plan.
Safety warningSafety warning
Ministers have been loathe to introduce any form of early release, fearing a dent in the public's confidence in the justice system. Jails in England and Wales are at bursting point - on Monday the prison population was 80,977 - 481 from capacity.
On Sky News's Sunday Live with Adam Boulton on 6 May, Lord Falconer dismissed reports that more than 3,000 prisoners were to be released early. Lord Falconer appeared to rule out an early release plan last monthBut ministers have been loathe to introduce any form of early release, fearing a dent in the public's confidence in the justice system.
I think what people will find is that there are going to be more prison places in the next few weeks Chancellor Gordon Brown "I am not going to announce early releases because of prison overcrowding," he insisted. Speaking on Sky News on 6 May, Lord Falconer dismissed reports that more than 3,000 prisoners were to be released early.
The Conservatives say early releases will threaten public safety and would be a direct consequence of ministers' failure to deal with overcrowding.The Conservatives say early releases will threaten public safety and would be a direct consequence of ministers' failure to deal with overcrowding.
But Prison Reform Trust director Juliet Lyon said: "Releasing some people, assessed as no risk to the public, will take the heat off overcrowded jails for a while. "This is a problem that's been coming down the road visibly for at least three years, to my knowledge, and longer than that I think," said shadow home secretary David Davis.
"Instead of lurching from crisis to crisis, government must use this respite to set out how it will reserve prison for serious and violent offenders." There's been no easing up on sentencing because it would be unpopular but also there's been no substantial building programme Harry FletcherNational Association of Probation Officers
'Breathing space' He added that Lord Falconer appeared to have "the rather unfortunate brief of having to clear the decks [and] get some of the problems out of the way before Mr Brown takes over".
Gordon Brown told GMTV on Tuesday that he had been looking at how more prison places could be created. "It's ironic because this problem has occurred because Mr Brown as chancellor didn't provide the money for a prison-building programme earlier," Mr Davis told BBC Radio Five Live.
Money had been set aside to create 8,000 new places next year, he said. Harry Fletcher, the assistant general secretary of the National Association of Probation Officers, said Home Office projections back in the late 1990s were warning of a prison population above 80,000.
"They've had eight, nine years and really done nothing, so there's been no easing up on sentencing because it would be unpopular but also there's been no substantial building programme and no provision for probation," Mr Fletcher told Five Live.
'Take the heat off'
Gordon Brown told GMTV money had been set aside to create 8,000 new prison places next year.
"My involvement as chancellor has been to look for both the money and how we can get more prison places," he said."My involvement as chancellor has been to look for both the money and how we can get more prison places," he said.
Lord Falconer appeared to rule out an early release plan last month"I think what people will find is that there are going to be more prison places in the next few weeks." Government must use this respite to set out how it will reserve prison for serious and violent offenders Juliet LyonPrison Reform Trust
On Monday, the Prison Governors Association said convicts should be set free a week early to stop court and police cells being used to tackle the problem. "I think what people will find is that there are going to be more prison places in the next few weeks."
Ministers needed to give the system some "breathing space", it added. Prison Reform Trust director Juliet Lyon said: "Releasing some people, assessed as no risk to the public, will take the heat off overcrowded jails for a while.
"Instead of lurching from crisis to crisis, government must use this respite to set out how it will reserve prison for serious and violent offenders."
On Monday, the Prison Governors Association said convicts should be set free a week early to stop court and police cells being used to tackle the problem and give the system some "breathing space".
General secretary Charles Bushell said some prisoners were now being held in court cells - designed only for defendants waiting to appear in the dock - for almost 48 hours.General secretary Charles Bushell said some prisoners were now being held in court cells - designed only for defendants waiting to appear in the dock - for almost 48 hours.