First UK prisoners released early express dissatisfaction, calling the situation ’a bit s**t’

10 September 2024 , 10:25

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First UK prisoners released early express dissatisfaction, calling the situation ’a bit s**t’

Prisoners released early under a government overcrowding scheme voiced concerns about housing support and strict tagging conditions

Prisoners released early as part of a government scheme to reduce jail overcrowding today gave their views on the plan.

The former inmates of HMP Brixton in south London were among around 1,700 offenders in England and Wales being let out on Tuesday. They were released after completing 40% of their sentence - rather than the standard 50% - in a bid to free up 5,500 beds.

The scheme was triggered by the incoming Labour government days after the general election in July, but officials had already been drawing it up when the Conservatives were in power.

One former prisoner in his 50s, who gave his name only as "Peter", said he was being released on a tag having served 12 months of a 32 month sentence for commercial burglary. He said: "The people they are now releasing are taking up all the housing so when they release the next lot next month there will be nowhere for them to live.

Peter, who said he was being released on a tag, warned there were not enough houses for freed prisoners ( Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

"They’re trying to help with education and training schemes but it’s more to do with housing. They need more places for people to live when they come out."

A 26-year-old man, who declined to give his name, said he was being released under the scheme having served 17 months of a 44 month sentence for GBH with intent. 

He said of his early release: "It’s been well organised, not much trouble. I got a qualification in painting and decorating [while in prison] and have a place to stay in an approved premises in east London. I did six months in Pentonville and 11 months here. Pentonville is disgusting, full of rats and cockroaches and I was expecting it to be chaos in Brixton but it’s much better."

Another man in his 20s said he was being released just short of half way through a 40 month sentence for car theft. He said of the scheme: "It’s a bit s***. They’re putting a lot of people on very strict licence conditions so a lot will be going back to prison soon."

Thousands of prisoners are being released early because of overcrowding in jails (Image: PA)

The former prisoner said he had been allocated a room in a hostel in Surrey and hoped to get work as a roofer. He said: "There are a lot of people being released who aren’t ready and some are kicking off saying they don’t want to go."

Another former prisoner said: "People are getting last minute notice that they’re being released and there’s nowhere for them to go. They don’t care and people are just going to get recalled. It’s s***."

Elizabeth Baker