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Early release for foreign inmates Early release for foreign inmates
(about 2 hours later)
Foreign prisoners are to be released earlier because of overcrowding in jails in England and Wales, the government has announced. Foreign prisoners serving sentences in England and Wales are to be released earlier and deported, the government has announced.
Justice Minister David Hanson said foreign inmates could now be deported 270 days before serving half their sentence - rather than the present 135. It is thought thousands of inmates will be eligible for deportation 270 days before serving half their sentence, rather than the present 135 days.
The Ministry of Justice said all those freed would be deported, not released onto Britain's streets. The Ministry of Justice said all foreign inmates would be sent home.
Last week, the prison population reached a record high of 81,918. Last week, the prison population reached a record high and jails are struggling to cope with overcrowding.
Of those, 11,310 (14%) are foreign national inmates. In a written statement to the House of Commons, Justice Minister David Hanson said the changes could make an "even greater contribution to removing criminals from our shores".
Parole board He said the Early Release Scheme had already resulted in the deportation of 3,000 prisoners since it was introduced in June 2004.
Eligibility
Last week, the prison population in England and Wales reached 81,918.
Some 14% of that number - 11,310 - are foreign nationals.
Such is the problem of overcrowding that police cells are regularly used to house prisoners rather than to hold suspects in custody.
On Tuesday, it was revealed that prisoners on a type of open-ended sentence in England and Wales are being moved to lower-security prisons, to try to ease pressures in the system.
BBC home affairs correspondent June Kelly said all foreign prisoners have to serve at least a quarter of their sentence before they are eligible for release.BBC home affairs correspondent June Kelly said all foreign prisoners have to serve at least a quarter of their sentence before they are eligible for release.
She said those serving a life sentence would not be eligible and prisoners serving a term of four years or more for a sexual or violent offence would have to go before a parole board before being considered for release.She said those serving a life sentence would not be eligible and prisoners serving a term of four years or more for a sexual or violent offence would have to go before a parole board before being considered for release.
In a written statement, Mr Hanson told the Commons the Early Release Scheme could make an "even greater contribution to removing criminals from our shores".
More than 3,000 prisoners had already been deported under the scheme which was introduced in 2004, he said.
The rise in the prison population has meant police cells are regularly used to handle the overspill.
Gordon Brown has repeatedly pledged to cut prison numbers by sending prisoners home to serve their sentences.Gordon Brown has repeatedly pledged to cut prison numbers by sending prisoners home to serve their sentences.
He has also promised that more will be ejected from the UK on release from jail.