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4,000 new prison places created Prisoners freed early by mistake
(about 3 hours later)
More than 4,000 new prison places have been created over the last two years, the Ministry of Justice has said. Almost 200 prisoners, including murderers and sex offenders, have been freed early by mistake over the past five years, official statistics show.
It said 500 prisoners will be housed in a former RAF base, HMP Bure, in Norfolk, which opened on Monday. The Tories, who obtained the figures in a series of written answers, said such errors can have "devastating" results.
Other places have been provided by building new wings, conversions and using existing units more efficiently. The Prison Service said it had taken action to "tighten processes and focus managers' attention".
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice has said 4,000 new prison places have been created over the last two years.
The figures, received by the Conservatives, show 192 prisoners were let out in error between January 2005 and September this year.
The number of wrongly released inmates rose 45% in the last two years, to a rate of almost one a week.
'Small proportion'
Shadow justice secretary Dominic Grieve blamed "Labour's incompetent mismanagement of the justice system".
"Although the number of releases in error may be small as a proportion of all releases, they can have devastating consequences," he said.
None of those released in error during 2009 remain unlawfully at large Prison Service
"As prisons have become more overcrowded, staff overworked and transfers more frequent, the number of erroneous releases has shot up."
A Prison Service spokeswoman said: "All incidents must be reported immediately and formal investigations are required in each case.
"Prisoners released in error are normally returned to custody by the police to continue to serve their sentence.
"None of those released in error during 2009 remain unlawfully at large."
Earlier this month, murder suspect Jason Bethell, 31, was accidentally freed from prison in Chelmsford, Essex.
Bethell, of Jaywick, Essex, who was on remand accused of murdering 58-year-old John Smith, later handed himself in to police.
Former airbase
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice says the extra prison places have been provided by building new wings, conversions and using existing units more efficiently.
A new prison, HMP Bure, opened on Monday. It was built on the site of RAF Coltishall in Norfolk and will be home to Category C sex offenders.
These new prisons will help protect the public and make communities safer by providing regimes to punish and reform offenders Justice Minister Maria Eagle
The government announced plans to take prison place numbers up from 81,000 to 96,000 by 2014, following a review of overcrowding in jails in 2007.The government announced plans to take prison place numbers up from 81,000 to 96,000 by 2014, following a review of overcrowding in jails in 2007.
The report, by Labour peer Lord Carter, recommended a building programme after looking at the prison system and the supply and demand of prison places.The report, by Labour peer Lord Carter, recommended a building programme after looking at the prison system and the supply and demand of prison places.
Justice Minister Maria Eagle said the government was pleased by the progress made since Lord Carter's report and "committed" to relieving prison population pressures.Justice Minister Maria Eagle said the government was pleased by the progress made since Lord Carter's report and "committed" to relieving prison population pressures.
Overcrowding New prisons
The Ministry of Justice said plans include the provision of 264 prison places at an expansion of HMP Forest Bank in Greater Manchester, and 77 at HMP Bronzefield in Middlesex.The Ministry of Justice said plans include the provision of 264 prison places at an expansion of HMP Forest Bank in Greater Manchester, and 77 at HMP Bronzefield in Middlesex.
HMP Bure, built on the site of former airbase RAF Coltishall, in Norfolk, will house 500 Category C sex offenders.
In April, Justice Secretary Jack Straw announced plans to create 7,500 new prison places by setting up new 1,500-place establishments.In April, Justice Secretary Jack Straw announced plans to create 7,500 new prison places by setting up new 1,500-place establishments.
Ms Eagle said: "We are delivering new prisons like HMP Bure, which has opened today, and HMP Isis which will open next year next to Belmarsh. Plans to create 1,500-place prisons are in hand at Runwell in Essex, and Beam Park West, in Barking and Dagenham. Ms Eagle said: "We are delivering new prisons like HMP Bure and HMP Isis which will open next year next to Belmarsh. Plans to create 1,500-place prisons are in hand at Runwell in Essex, and Beam Park West, in Barking and Dagenham.
"These new prisons will help protect the public and make communities safer by providing regimes to punish and reform offenders," she said. "These new prisons will help protect the public and make communities safer by providing regimes to punish and reform offenders."
Locking up more offenders for longer had contributed to cutting crime by 36% since 1997, she added.Locking up more offenders for longer had contributed to cutting crime by 36% since 1997, she added.
In August, the Prison Reform Trust said almost two-thirds of prisons in England and Wales were overcrowded, with jails' intended numbers exceeded by almost 9,000.In August, the Prison Reform Trust said almost two-thirds of prisons in England and Wales were overcrowded, with jails' intended numbers exceeded by almost 9,000.
It said overcrowding increases reoffending and called for prison to be reserved for serious and violent criminals.It said overcrowding increases reoffending and called for prison to be reserved for serious and violent criminals.
Ministry of Justice figures put the prison population in July at 83,962 - 8,865 above the normal accommodation level of 75,097.Ministry of Justice figures put the prison population in July at 83,962 - 8,865 above the normal accommodation level of 75,097.