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Jail inmates 'to be freed early' Jail inmates 'to be freed early'
(40 minutes later)
Non-violent offenders could be let out of jail early in a bid to ease prison overcrowding in England and Wales. Lord Falconer is expected to announce the early release of up to 2,000 non-violent inmates, to combat prison overcrowding in England and Wales.
New Ministry of Justice (MoJ) head Lord Falconer, is expected to announce plans to combat overcrowding this week. The Justice Secretary's statement, due in the House of Lords, comes as the prison population breaks the 81,000 barrier for the first time.
A senior prison source told BBC News the prison population in England and Wales had now broken through the 81,000 barrier for the first time. It would affect prisoners such as drug dealers, burglars and fraudsters, who are nearing the end of their sentences.
Reports in the Times said "up to 2,000 prisoners serving less than four years" would be affected by the new measures. Last month Lord Falconer said he would not use early release to ease pressure.
Last month, Lord Falconer told Sky News that he would not be announcing early releases to ease pressure on prisons. The Conservatives have condemned the plan, with their home affairs spokesman Edward Garnier saying it posed a risk to the public.
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said Lord Falconer's announcement would not be based on the Early Executive Release scheme, under which the home secretary has the right to release prisoners.BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said Lord Falconer's announcement would not be based on the Early Executive Release scheme, under which the home secretary has the right to release prisoners.
Our correspondent said the justice secretary was instead likely to announce some form of release scheme for low-risk, non-violent prisoners approaching the end of their sentences. Our correspondent said the justice secretary was more likely to announce a release scheme for low-risk, non-violent prisoners.
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 Prison facts and figuresPRISON 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 Prison facts and figures
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". The Times said the affected prisoners would not be "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.An MoJ spokeswoman would neither confirm nor deny an early release plan.
Safety warningSafety warning
Jails in England and Wales are at bursting point - on Monday night the total prison population was 81,016, with 80,512 in prison cells and 504 in police and court cells.Jails in England and Wales are at bursting point - on Monday night the total prison population was 81,016, with 80,512 in prison cells and 504 in police and court cells.
Lord Falconer appeared to rule out an early release plan last monthLord Falconer appeared to rule out an early release plan last month
But ministers have been loathe to introduce any form of early release, fearing it would dent public confidence in the justice system. But ministers have been loath to introduce any form of early release, fearing it would dent public confidence in the justice system.
The Conservatives say early releases will threaten public safety and would be a direct consequence of ministers' - including Gordon Brown's - failure to deal with overcrowding. The Conservatives say early releases would be a direct consequence of ministers' - including Gordon Brown's - failure to deal with overcrowding.
Shadow home secretary David Davis said 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". HAVE YOUR SAY Prisoners should serve their sentence. The way to tackle this is to build new prisons Martin Long, Nottingham class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6596&edition=1&ttl=20070619084846">Send us your comments
"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. 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.
HAVE YOUR SAY Prisoners should serve their sentence. The way to tackle this is to build new prisons Martin Long, Nottingham Send us your comments 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."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''Take the heat off'
Gordon Brown told GMTV money had been set aside to create 8,000 new prison places next year and that I believed more places would become available in the next few weeks. Earlier, Gordon Brown told GMTV money had been set aside to create 8,000 new prison places next year and that he believed more places would become available 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 TrustGovernment must use this respite to set out how it will reserve prison for serious and violent offenders Juliet LyonPrison Reform Trust
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.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.""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 instead of jails and give the system some "breathing space".On Monday, the Prison Governors Association said convicts should be set free a week early to stop court and police cells being used instead of jails 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.