Early-release prisoners to reach 2,000

The number of inmates released early from jails in Greater Manchester could reach almost 2,000 before the Government’s controversial scheme to tackle overcrowding is wound up, the Tories have claimed.

Figures published by the Conservatives show 926 inmates at Manchester prison were released up to 18 days before their sentences were due to end in the first year of the scheme, launched last June. A further 73 were released from Rochdale.

Under the End of Custody Licence (ECL) scheme, any prisoner serving between four weeks and four years is automatically released 18 days early, subject to certain exceptions, including registered sex offenders and those convicted of a number of violent offences.

Nationally, 31,549 prisoners were released early in the first year of the scheme — including almost 6,000 violent offenders.

The Government has said ECL will continue until total prison capacity has been increased to 86,000, which is expected to take until at least September, next year, by which time almost 70,000 prisoners will have been released early.

The Tories estimated the total number released from across Greater Manchester would double to almost 2,000 over the same period.

Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert said: “This incompetent Government is failing in its most basic duty to protect the public.

“They refused to provide the necessary jail places and now they have released more than 31,500 prisoners early on to the streets in a single year, including thousands of violent offenders.

“Gordon Brown won’t even consider ending this scheme until the prison capacity has reached 86,000 in September, next year, by which time almost 70,000 criminals will have been let out early.

“This appalling policy should be scrapped immediately.”

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said how long ECL remains in place in light of new prison capacity coming on stream was under constant review.

She added: “Our view remains that ending ECL is a desirable goal but that this needs to be supported by a sustainable margin between prison capacity and the demand for prison places.”