1,300 freed early from Mersey jails

Mar 1 2008 by Ben Schofield, Liverpool Daily Post

MORE than 1,300 criminals including thugs, robbers and burglars have been released early from Merseyside jails since June, 2007, it was confirmed yesterday.

Leading prison officers warned last night the Government’s early release programme was putting the public at risk.

The scheme was bought in last summer to ease pressure on Britain’s overcrowded prisons.

A total of 1,344 criminals in the city region were allowed out up to 18 days before the end of their sentences under End of Custody Licence measures.

In January alone, 227 left prison in Merseyside and Cheshire.

Paul Leigh, branch chairman of the prison officers association at Liverpool prison, said: “We are concerned that the public has been put at risk by the early release.

“They are sent to prison for a custodial sentence and we believe they should serve that full sentence. Many many have re-offended within the first couple of weeks – it’s a retrograde step.”

Altcourse prison, Fazakerley, has released 432 criminals in the past seven months, 82 of them in January. HMP Liverpool in Walton released 65 in January, bringing its total to 400, while Styal Women’s Prison in Cheshire released 53 for a total of 277.

Although regional figures are not broken down by the type of crime, the Government confirmed that of the more than 18,500 prisoners released nationwide, 3,484 were serving sentences for violent crimes against the person.

They also include 409 robbers, 1,730 burglars and 790 people serving sentences for drugs.

The offenders freed have committed 367 further alleged crimes since last June.

Of the national total, 673 have been recalled to jail for failing to comply with terms of the release, but 124 are on the run after failing to surrender themselves.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said they were monitoring the scheme carefully.

She added: “All prisoners released on ECL would have to have been released anyway in a maximum of 18 days’ time. Of those released, we have been notified that about 4% have been recalled. Just 1% have been notified to the National Offender Management Service as offending during the ECL period.

“It is for this reason that ECL operates according to precise fixed criteria.”

benschofield