About 650 more offenders to leave jail Tuesday in early prisoner release scheme

Who can be released early

The Tuesday release is expected to include people convicted of affray, burglary and fraud. Affray carries a maximum sentence of three years. More than 70 offence categories are excluded from the scheme. These include manslaughter, rape, sexual and grooming offences, as well as offences carrying life terms.

Prison numbers and supervision

Weekly figures published on Monday put the prison population at 86,982. The system had space for 2,076 more people if needed. Those released will be supervised by probation officers. Licence conditions can require participation in courses or programmes, restrict entry to certain areas, and prohibit contact with victims.

Concerns over oversight

Refuge, which supports survivors of domestic abuse, told the BBC last month that people who had perpetrated such abuse were among those being released. Victims’ groups and survivors have also voiced concerns about the scheme.

Between April and June, 12,338 offenders were returned to prison for breaking their terms. That was 12% more than in the same period a year earlier, though fewer than in the first three months of the year.

Pressure on probation teams

The probation service union Napo has said the releases are placing heavy demands on staff responsible for monitoring people in the community. The Ministry of Justice has offered probation officers a 5% pay rise; the union had sought 12%, citing earnings lost after cuts from 2010.