Labour frees 26,000 prisoners early: In just seven months, hundreds jailed for more than 10 years are released
Labour has freed over 26,000 criminals early – including hundreds of serious offenders who were handed sentences of more than a decade behind bars.
Astonishing figures for the soft-justice programme suggest 45,000 could have their sentences cut in its first year.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood introduced the programme in September, and by the end of March 26,456 offenders had been let out early.
For the first time it can be revealed that 248 convicts sentenced to 14 years or more have already been let out, despite the seriousness of their offending and the severity of their punishment.
Under the scheme, a criminal given 14 years by a court will serve just five and a half years.
In addition, 490 criminals handed between ten and 14 years have been freed early under the programme, as have almost 1,000 who were handed terms of between seven and ten years, according to the Ministry of Justice figures.
On average, 3,500 criminals a month are released – or more than 150 each working day.
It means the total is already likely to have hit 40,000, when projected figures for April to August are taken into account.
Labour has freed over 26,000 criminals early – including hundreds of serious offenders who were handed sentences of more than a decade behind bars, astonishing figures for the soft-justice programme introduced by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood (pictured) show
For the first time it can be revealed that 248 convicts sentenced to 14 years or more have already been let out, despite the seriousness of their offending and the severity of their punishment. Pictured: HMP Wandsworth
Tory justice spokesman Robert Jenrick said: ‘The public are sick of soft justice. Instead of introducing emergency measures to let criminals out early, Starmer should change our broken human rights law so we can deport the thousands of foreign offenders clogging up our jails’
By the time the programme has been running for a full year the total is likely to hit an estimated 44,785 at current rates.
Tory justice spokesman Robert Jenrick said: ‘The public are sick of soft justice. Instead of introducing emergency measures to let criminals out early, Starmer should change our broken human rights law so we can deport the thousands of foreign offenders clogging up our jails.
‘These shocking statistics explain why Britain feels lawless.’
After the scheme began, 3,785 were freed in September and 5,366 in October, which included backdated releases.
Since then, an average 3,461 a month have been let out early – 26,456 in all. A total of 23,803 were British and 2,613 were foreign. The nationality of 40 freed crooks was ‘not recorded’.
The scheme allows offenders to be freed after serving 40 per cent of their sentence rather than the previous 50 per cent.
Those jailed for sex crimes, terrorism and serious violent crimes carrying more than four years in jail are excluded. But offenders sentenced to less than four years can be freed early, including killers convicted of manslaughter.
A scheme introduced by the former Tory government – letting inmates out up to 70 days early – led to 13,325 offenders being freed over 11 months, or about one third of the rate being let out by Labour.
On the first day of Labour’s scheme last September, lags released early were seen celebrating outside jails. Pictured: a man celebrates as he is released from HMP Wandsworth
After the scheme began, 3,785 were freed in September and 5,366 in October, which included backdated releases. Since then, an average 3,461 a month have been let out early – 26,456 in all. A total of 23,803 were British and 2,613 were foreign. Pictured: Ms Mahmood visits HMP Millsike
On the first day of Labour’s scheme last September, lags released early were seen celebrating outside jails.
Criminals thanked Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and vowed to be ‘lifelong Labour voters’. Some committed new offences within hours.
Ms Mahmood is drawing up new soft-justice measures that could allow even greater sentence discounts – including for killers and rapists. Tens of thousands of other criminals would dodge jail altogether.
Under the plan, published in May, courts will no longer impose jail terms of less than 12 months other than in ‘exceptional circumstances’.
Criminals convicted of serious violence or sex offences would be freed after half their term, rather than the current three-quarters point.
This lower automatic release date would apply to offenders convicted of ‘rape, manslaughter, soliciting murder, attempted murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm’, providing they behaved well in jail.
Most other offenders could be released after serving just a third of their sentence. Labour has also announced a new plan to deport foreign criminals immediately after sentencing.
It will require an Act of Parliament and is expected to form part of a sentencing Bill due in the autumn.
Pictured: a former prisoner celebrates his early release with friends who picked him up in a Lamborghini
After the scheme was introduced, Criminals thanked Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and vowed to be ‘lifelong Labour voters’. Some committed new offences within hours
Most other offenders could be released after serving just a third of their sentence. Labour has also announced a new plan to deport foreign criminals immediately after sentencing. Pictured: top security prison Belmarsh, in south-east London
Former Tory justice secretary Alex Chalk said he had ‘real misgivings’ about the measure. Serious offenders ‘would not have to spend a day in custody’, he told Times Radio, and would ‘get a thousand pounds to help resettle’
But former Tory justice secretary Alex Chalk said he had ‘real misgivings’ about the measure.
Serious offenders ‘would not have to spend a day in custody’, he told Times Radio, and would ‘get a thousand pounds to help resettle’.
‘The real danger is you’re giving a green light to foreign national offenders,’ Mr Chalk warned.
Separately, the Home Office said last night that it was expanding the list of nationalities who must appeal from overseas against their deportation.
Rather than being able to block their removal with legal challenges in Britain, they will be removed and appeal from their home nation by video link.
The existing list of eight will expand to 23, now including India, Bulgaria, Latvia, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: ‘This Government inherited prisons days from collapse and had no choice but to take decisive action to stop prisons overflowing and leave police unable to make arrests.
‘Public protection is our number one priority. Offenders out on licence face strict conditions and will be brought back to prison if they break these rules.
‘We are building 14,000 prison places and reforming sentencing so jails never run out of space again.’
