More than 1,700 prisoners have been released early in England and Wales as part of a government scheme to ease overcrowding in prisons.
One freed prisoner said conditions in prison cells were “terrible,” with inmates exposed to “loads of violence”.
But not all victims of crime were made aware of their offenders’ early release date, the victims’ commissioner for England and Wales said, warning that some victims may not have had the opportunity to seek “protective measures”.
The government said offenders jailed for violent offences with sentences of at least four years, sex offenders and domestic abusers were not eligible for early release.
Baroness Newlove, the victims’ commissioner for England and Wales, warned that not all victims of crime had been made aware of their offenders’ early release date and given the opportunity to seek “protective measures”.
She said that from the beginning of the scheme, she had sought assurances that all “impacted victims” would be informed of any early release dates, affording them the opportunity to request protective measures.
“I understand this has not been possible in every case, leaving some victims unaware of their offender’s early release,” she said in a statement.
“While I recognise the challenges in reaching certain groups of victims, this is regrettable and must be addressed.”
The Napo probation union said domestic abusers and sex offenders were among those released.
In response, the Ministry of Justice pointed out eligibility for the scheme was based on the offence, not the offender. Some offenders may have been released early from a sentence for a lesser offence when they had previously completed a sentence for a sexual or violent offence, it added.
Among those released on Tuesday was John Price, a 34-year-old who told the BBC he had been released four days early from a six-and-a-half month sentence for actual bodily harm in HMP Nottingham.
Price said accommodation had been arranged for him and he was hoping to go back to work.
“I would’ve happily stayed there for the rest of the time if I had to,” he said, but said conditions in the prison were “terrible… there’s loads of violence”.
Shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride told BBC Breakfast there was serious public concern about the scheme. He said some victims “who have suffered at the hands of these individuals have not been told they are being let out early”.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told the same programme that victims had been informed “where it’s relevant to them”.
Under the release scheme, announced in July, offenders in jails in England and Wales serving sentences of fewer than five years will be released on licence into the community after having served 40% of their sentences, instead of 50%.
Being released on licence means that offenders must adhere to restrictions for the rest of their sentence, including curfews and tagging, and will be supervised by probation officers.
Another offender, released from HMP Wormwood Scrubs after serving 19 months of a three-and-a-half year sentence for drugs offences, said the early release scheme had been good for his family but added: “I don’t know if I agree with everybody being released early – especially for more serious crimes.”
The early release scheme was triggered by the incoming Labour government days after the general election, but officials had already been drawing it up when the Conservatives were in power.
A Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesperson said the government had inherited “a justice system on the verge of collapse”.
“We have been forced into taking difficult but necessary action, with safeguards in place, so we can keep locking up offenders and protect the public.”
Those released under the scheme will be subject to “full probation supervision”, which will include “tough restrictions” in many cases, the MoJ said.
