Around 700 offenders jailed for crimes including theft, violence and domestic abuse are being freed early today, but was re-arrested after being accused of theft moments after leaving prison
A prisoner was re-arrested a matter of seconds after walking free from prison, after being released under the early release scheme.
A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of two counts of theft after being accused of stealing a bike as he left Wandsworth Prison this morning. He was taken into custody by British Transport Police as he stood outside the jail he had just left.
The force confirmed to the Mirror: “A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of two counts of Theft of a Pedal Cycle today (October 1) at around 10.40am outside Wandsworth Prison. The man has been taken to custody.”
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The first prisoners being freed under the controversial plan left their cells this morning, before saying a big thank-you to the Prime Minister.
Hundreds of prisoners are being freed early today as the government desperately tries to free up space in overcrowded jails. Around 700 eligible offenders will leave jails across England and Wales throughout the day, with 2,550 due to be released by the end of the year.
Some prisoners will have served just a third of their sentences, for crimes including domestic abuse and some sexual offences. Andy Burnham has defended the scheme, despite fierce opposition, saying anyone found guilty of rape, serious child sexual offences and grooming will be blocked.
The plan to free up capacity in the overcrowded male prison estate comes as figures show the number of people behind bars has jumped by more than 1,700 in the past three months.
Released prisoner Jordan Laverack, 26, said outside HMP Leeds: “The plan for today its to go to KFC and after that I’m not sure.”
He said: “I think early release is good for myself. I can see why there’s a lot of attention behind it, because there might be people doing heinous crime who are getting released early. But for the average person, who’s missed probation like myself, I think it suits somebody like me.”
Mr Laverack said he served just under four weeks for missing probation appointments, but would not say why he was on probation, adding: “nothing too bad”.
Another prisoner, dressed in shorts, a T-shirt and trainers, holding his belongings in a bin bag, said to as he left HMP Durham in north east England: “Justice system, what justice system? Thank you Andy Burnham.”
James Ashford, 21, was serving 12 months for carrying an offensive weapon. He only served four months and was greeted outside by family.
Asked what he thinks about the early release scheme he said: ”It’s good. I think it helps people back into the community rather than spending a long time inside and coming out. It’s hard to come back out the longer you’ve spent in there.”
Asked what he has to say to the Prime Minister, he responded: “Thanks mate!”
Another man leaving HMP Cardiff, who was asked if he had a message for the Prime Minister, said: “Thank you very much and don’t get me back here again, bro.”
One woman had been waiting for her boyfriend since 7am. She could be seen embracing him in a large hug as he left the Category C prison, which holds young adult males.
She said her boyfriend, wearing a durag and holding a dark blue bag, had been imprisoned for “nothing too serious” – though neither would speak following his release, and would not confirm whether he was one of those eligible for early release.
The prison population in England and Wales was 87,499 on Monday, according to Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data. This is up from 85,761 on June 29 – a rise of 1,738, or 2%. The MoJ said released offenders will be monitored under the “toughest supervision in British history”.
Victims commissioner Claire Waxman warned that the Government’s confidence in the plan “is not yet matched by the reality on the ground”.
The early release scheme is needed to prevent the justice system from collapsing, after a summer when the issue dominated news headlines.
After changes made criminals will be excluded from the scheme if they have been jailed for a range of offences, including members of child grooming gangs convicted of indecent assault.
Justice Secretary Alex Norris said: “We understand the anxiety victims face ahead of offenders’ release dates, but the greatest danger to victims would be prisons running out of cells for dangerous criminals, which was the crisis this Government inherited.
“Our plan will make sure this never happens again by building 14,000 prison places while subjecting offenders to the toughest-ever controls, leaving them nowhere to hide and under no doubt that we are watching them.”