Prison chiefs are said to be “carefully choreographing” the mass release of prisoners amid concerns of violent clashes among gang rivals.
Under the Labour Government’s early release scheme, around 1,700 criminals will be set free today.
Ministers claim the programme is required to tackle overcrowding.
Prisoners at HMP Wandsworth and HMP Thameside are subject to “non-association” orders to stop them interacting with other inmates – namely members of rival gangs.
One source said this means that their releases will have to be spread out to prevent violence, according to the MailOnline.
However, inmates could mix by mistake amid delays in getting prisoners to reception, recovering their property and arranging transport.
Prisoners are set to be released after serving only 40 per cent of their sentence – the largest release of prisoners in a decade.
Policing minister, Dame Diana Johnson said plans will be in place to stop domestic abusers and other high-risk criminals re-offending.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
“There’s been a real trawl through to try and identify where their primary offence isn’t domestic abuse, we know there’s a history, and that’s where the steps have been put in to protect as best we can,” she told Sky News.
“Because we know, unfortunately, domestic abuse is so prevalent amongst the offending community.”
A high number of prisoners to be released could be domestic abusers, a senior Government source warned.
Nicole Jacobs, the domestic abuse commissioner said victims will be “paying the price” for Britain’s overcrowded prisons.
A high number of prisoners to be released could be domestic abusers, a senior government source warned
PA
“We must ensure that victims aren’t lost in the shuffle of the changes that are being made in the prison release schemes and the perception of justice and fairness,” she told The Times.
“Victims of domestic abuse are very focused on those release dates, it causes them sleepless nights, they will change so much of their daily activities knowing that their perpetrator is being released, the uncertainty of not knowing if that person will comply with licensing conditions and of release.
Yesterday, it was reported that among the inmates to be freed is a man who told his partner he was “enjoying” attacking her and another who strangled his partner and broke her jaw.
Source Agencies
