Overcrowding forces release of UK prisoners

Chronic overcrowding in prisons in England and Wales forced the United Kingdom government to release 1,700 inmates on Tuesday, in a move that has been criticized by victims' advocates and opposition lawmakers.

The mass release, which was made in addition to the usual weekly release of around 1,000 inmates, came as the UK's prison population passed 88,000, and as institutions hit breaking point.

The prison population, which is the largest it has ever been, grew by more than 1,100 during August, as people were sentenced following anti-immigrant riots that swept the country.

The ruling Labour Party, which swept to power in the general election on July 4, said the previous Conservative Party administration was to blame for the lack of prison space following years of underinvestment.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the system was at "crisis point".

Jonathan Reynolds, the UK's minister for business, explained on the BBC's Breakfast program that victims were being told about prisoners' early release "where it's relevant".

"Most British people would say it should never get to this point and I understand those concerns," he said.

Reynolds said the authorities had put "many safeguards" in place to protect the public. He said domestic abusers, sex offenders, terrorists, and other violent offenders were not eligible for early release under the policy that calls for non-violent prisoners sentenced to less than five years to be freed after serving 40 percent of their term, instead of the previous 50 percent.

The government says the change will free up 5,500 spaces.

But Helen Newlove, the victim's commissioner for England and Wales, told the BBC she was "concerned about the impact of these early releases on victims' confidence in our justice system".

"Victim safety must remain the absolute priority," she said.

The Conservative Party said the government had mismanaged the situation and created "serious public concern" as a result.

Mel Stride, the party's spokesperson on work and pensions, said he was concerned some prisoners would be freed without a home to go to.

"We're not getting satisfactory answers as to whether appropriate accommodation is actually being provided for those prisoners that are being released," he said. "And in the event it is not, we know the chances of reoffending increase very significantly."

Chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor agreed, telling the Associated Press: "It's inevitable that some of these prisoners will get recalled to custody and it's inevitable that some of them will go out homeless."

He said in his annual report on the state of UK prisons that the number of people in custody will grow by 27,000 by 2028, but that construction is unlikely to keep up.

The Prison Reform Trust said the UK's overcrowded prisons now mean inmates are simply being "warehoused" and do not have adequate access to education, training, and work.