UK NEWS
THOUSANDS TOO MANY FREED IN PRISONS CHAOS
TERRORIST: Yassin Nassari
By Tom Whitehead, Home Affairs Correspondent
THOUSANDS more prisoners than the Government estimated will be let out early because of the chaotic handling of the overcrowding crisis.
An official forecast of the number of criminals to benefit in the first year of the controversial early release scheme has already been exceeded after 10 months.
The total number to be released early is now expected to pass 30,000 for the last year.
It means that even more violent thugs, sex offenders, robbers and burglars will be let back on the streets than predicted.
The news comes days after it emerged that the prisons chaos has led to police failing to round up wanted criminals unless there is space free in cells.
A memo also showed that foreign prisoners serving even the shortest of sentences will have yet more time slashed off their punishments in a desperate attempt to make space.
Critics last night condemned the Government for “incompetence” and “catastrophic mismanagement” which has led to tens of thousands of criminals spending less time behind bars than they should.
Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert said: “The Government claimed that 25,500 offenders would be released early in a year, and that the scheme would be temporary. But this number has been exceeded in just 10 months and Gordon Brown says he won’t even take a decision on ending the scheme for at least a year.
“Thousands of violent prisoners have been released before they’ve even served half their sentence. This incompetent Government talks about making the streets safe but their policies put the public at risk.”
Liberal Democrat justice spokesman David Howarth said: “These figures show yet again this Government’s catastrophic mismanagement of the system. Ministers seem to be lurching from excessive imprisonment to excessive early release.
“The number of prisoners claiming to have stable homes to go to has gone up by an implausible amount. This is no doubt due to it now being a criterion for early release. Short-term panic measures are no substitute for a long-term
strategy.”
The Ministry of Justice said last June that 25,500 prisoners would be let out up to 18 days early over 12 months. But by the end of last month, 26,347 criminals had already been freed.
Criminals are being let out early at a rate of around 2,600 a month, meaning that the total will be over 30,000 by the time the first year is up next month.
The total includes just under 5,000 violent offenders, around 600 robbers, up to 2,400 burglars and eight sex offenders.
The scheme aroused further controversy in March when it emerged that even two terrorists had been released early.
Yassin Nassari had been jailed for three-and-a-half years for possessing documents likely to be useful to a terrorist but was let out after seven months.
Abdul Patel, 18, known as the “terrorists’ teaboy” was let out part way through a six-month sentence for having an explosives manual. Justice Minister Jack Straw immediately banned other terror convicts from early release.
*** COMMENT: END SOFT APPROACH AND MAKE JAIL A HARSH REALITY ***
Video 
FREED PRISONERS
31.05.08, 11:27pm
Why is everyone surprised at letting terrorists go. Your Labor Government has been trying to get our Labor (Democrat) Government to let the Gitmo Terrorists go. Last month we did. He went back and blew himsrlf up trying to set off a bomb in a group of soldiers. Fortunately he killed only himself.
• Posted by: r35 • Report Comment
INCOMPETENCE PARTY
31.05.08, 7:49pm
The bad news is that this Labour government has ruined a once great country and lined their own pockets.
The good news is that people have woken up and are now actively opposing them.
Even life-long Labour supporters have had enough.
• Posted by: Peter_Pan • Report Comment
THOUSANDS TOO MANY FREED IN PRISONS CHAOS
31.05.08, 6:56pm
New Labour Incompetence party ?
Debacle after Debacle after Debacle !
• Posted by: EmperorMing • Report Comment
MESSAGE TO TEXAS 123$
31.05.08, 4:24pm
HOWDY TEXAS!
I KNOW YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THIS BUNCH OF MISFITS CALLED A GOVERNMENT WOULD FREE TERRORISTS.
JUST COME AND LIVE OVER HERE FOR SIX MONTHS AND ALL WILL BE REVEALED!
• Posted by: jakman • Report Comment
I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT BRITON WILL LET A TERRORIST GO
31.05.08, 3:16pm
I can not believe that Briton will let a terrorist go knowing that all they are really doing is setting the stage for a British child or family to be killed
This is too unreal for me- fire the one responsible and take away his/her/there pension , I live in Texas and they do some really stupide thinks but this takes the cake
• Posted by: Texas1234 • Report Comment
PRISONER.
31.05.08, 1:16pm
deport the ones who should not be here together with their mind their human rights, and then there would be room for all the others.There would also be the money from their benefits to pay for the care for the elderly many of whom fought for thi s country at gret personal cost, but of course the government doesnt give a you know what for theim and their rights.
• Posted by: SRM • Report Comment
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