Why the British are releasing hundreds of prisoners again

Great Britain is once again releasing prisoners early to make room in overcrowded prisons. Approximately 1,100 prisoners should be released a little earlier than planned, as the British news agency PA reported. There were already around September in England and Wales 1,700 prisoners was released early. Now the next step of an emergency plan takes effect.

The prisons have been working on the attack for a long time. Justice Minister Shabana Mahmood warned in July that prisons were on the verge of collapse. If we don’t act now, there is a risk of law and order collapsing.

Harsh punishments for right-wing extremist rioters

The new government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer had blamed the previous conservative government for the fact that prison places were becoming scarce and that many prisons were in a dilapidated condition. The prisons also came under pressure because of the right-wing extremist riots in the summer. Courts take tough action against rioters and sometimes impose prison sentences lasting several years.

To make room, some prisoners can now be released after serving 40 percent of their sentence. Normally at least 50 percent must be served before you can be released on conditions. But anyone who is imprisoned for terrorism or sexual offenses will not be released earlier.

Prisons don’t work

The government also wants to examine which alternatives to detention could be used more widely – such as technology, community service or fines. “Obviously our prisons are not working,” shared Ex-Minister David Gauke who will lead the investigation.

“The number of prisoners is increasing by around 4,500 every year and almost 90 percent of those sentenced to prison are repeat offenders.” According to PA, one idea would be wristwatches that remind people that they have an appointment with their probation officer or therapy.