British authorities have extended indefinitely the mechanism that allows prisoners to be released early due to a lack of space in prisons, Sky News reported, citing documents at its disposal.
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In 2007, UK Justice Minister Lord Falconer announced the government’s decision to release up to 2,000 prisoners early due to prison overcrowding. He pointed out that parole does not mean amnesty, and prisoners can be returned to prison if they violate the rules of behavior determined by him while at large. A similar mechanism, according to the TV channel, was reintroduced by the authorities in October 2023 on a temporary basis and allowed prisoners to be released 18 days before the end of their sentence due to a lack of space in prisons. Initially, the measure applied only to 21 prisons, however, according to the TV channel, it began to be applied to other places of deprivation of liberty.
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“Prison guidance states that the scheme is ‘activated indefinitely,'” the report said.
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The channel emphasizes that country officials insist that the activation of the measure for an indefinite period does not mean that it has been introduced on a permanent basis, but officials have not given a final date for its effect.
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As part of the changes, more people found guilty, particularly of domestic violence offences, could reportedly be released early. “Those who are guilty of more serious crimes and are serving a sentence of more than four years are not eligible for early release,” the channel explains.
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At the end of 2022, British authorities asked police to begin using 400 pre-trial detention cells to house prisoners due to a lack of space in prisons. In October 2023, the Daily Mail reported that the UK Ministry of Justice was paying police £1 million a week to hold prisoners in police cells due to a lack of prison space.
At the same time, the inspector of British prisons, Charlie Taylor, stated that overcrowding in correctional institutions causes a negative emotional state in prisoners who are deprived of the opportunity to engage in productive activities. According to him, this leads to problems with returning to normal life and an increased risk of relapse.
