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Jail inmates 'to be freed early' Jail inmates 'to be freed early'
(about 1 hour later)
Lord Falconer is expected to announce the early release of up to 2,000 non-violent inmates, to combat prison overcrowding in England and Wales. Lord Falconer is set to announce the early release of up to 2,000 non-violent inmates, to combat prison overcrowding in England and Wales.
The Justice Secretary's statement, due in the House of Lords, comes as the prison population breaks the 81,000 barrier for the first time.The Justice Secretary's statement, due in the House of Lords, comes as the prison population breaks the 81,000 barrier for the first time.
It would affect prisoners such as drug dealers, burglars and fraudsters, who are nearing the end of their sentences. It would affect prisoners such as drug dealers, burglars and fraudsters who are nearing the end of their sentences.
In a speech on Tuesday, Gordon Brown promised new money for prison places.
This is in addition to 8,000 prison places which are already being built.
Last month Lord Falconer said he would not use early release to ease pressure.Last month Lord Falconer said he would not use early release to ease pressure.
The Conservatives have condemned the plan, with their home affairs spokesman Edward Garnier saying it posed a risk to the public. The Conservatives have condemned the plan to release prisoners early, with their home affairs spokesman Edward Garnier saying it posed a risk to the public.
And in a speech to police officers in Manchester, Gordon Brown promised new money for more prison places.
PRISON FACTS AND FIGURES About 147 people per 100,000 are in prison in England and Wales - the highest proportion in Western EuropeThe prison population has almost doubled from about 41,000 in 1993More than 17,000 prison spaces have been created since 1997 - a further 8,000 are plannedMore than half of prisoners serve less than six months, and one in five is held on remandAbout two thirds of released prisoners are reconvicted within two years Prison facts and figures Reid announces prisons planPRISON FACTS AND FIGURES About 147 people per 100,000 are in prison in England and Wales - the highest proportion in Western EuropeThe prison population has almost doubled from about 41,000 in 1993More than 17,000 prison spaces have been created since 1997 - a further 8,000 are plannedMore than half of prisoners serve less than six months, and one in five is held on remandAbout two thirds of released prisoners are reconvicted within two years Prison facts and figures Reid announces prisons plan
Mr Brown, addressing delegates to the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), did not say what increase in capacity that will bring. The prison population in England and Wales has risen steadily over the last eight years - from 64,530 in June 1999 to 81,016 on Monday night.
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said Lord Falconer's announcement would not be based on the Early Executive Release scheme, under which the home secretary has the right to release prisoners. BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said in the short term ministers were having to agree to the release, a few days early, of up to 2,000 prisoners.
Our correspondent said the justice secretary was more likely to announce a release scheme for low-risk, non-violent prisoners. Prison governors would be asked to choose the inmates who were considered least dangerous to avoid any public outrage, our correspondent added.
It would involve some kind of monitoring or release conditions but probably not tagging. The jails were so full that some 400 prisoners were being held in police stations each night and around 100 were held in court cells, he said.
Details for the scheme, which is believed to have been discussed with Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown, are yet to be finalised. Our correspondent said that prisoners had been held in one London magistrates' court for the last two weekends. It lacked proper washing facilities and staff were having to bring in mattresses for inmates to sleep on.
Mr Brown told delegates to the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) in Manchester that more prison places were to be built.
"For the Treasury's part I can say that it's making available additional money today for further new prison places including extra fast build units this year," he said.
He did not say what increase in capacity that will bring.
Safety warningSafety warning
Jails in England and Wales are at bursting point - on Monday night the total prison population was 81,016, with 80,512 in prison cells and 504 in police and court cells. Ministers have been loath to introduce any form of early release, fearing it would dent public confidence in the justice system.
But ministers have been loath to introduce any form of early release, fearing it would dent public confidence in the justice system.
HAVE YOUR SAY Prisoners should serve their sentence. The way to tackle this is to build new prisons Martin Long, Nottingham Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Prisoners should serve their sentence. The way to tackle this is to build new prisons Martin Long, Nottingham Send us your comments
Harry Fletcher, the assistant general secretary of the National Association of Probation Officers, said Home Office projections back in the late 1990s were warning of a prison population above 80,000. Harry Fletcher, the assistant general secretary of the National Association of Probation Officers, said Home Office projections back in the late 1990s warned of a prison population above 80,000.
"They've had eight, nine years and really done nothing, so there's been no easing up on sentencing because it would be unpopular but also there's been no substantial building programme and no provision for probation," Mr Fletcher told Five Live."They've had eight, nine years and really done nothing, so there's been no easing up on sentencing because it would be unpopular but also there's been no substantial building programme and no provision for probation," Mr Fletcher told Five Live.
'Take the heat off''Take the heat off'
Prison Reform Trust director Juliet Lyon said: "Releasing some people, assessed as no risk to the public, will take the heat off overcrowded jails for a while.Prison Reform Trust director Juliet Lyon said: "Releasing some people, assessed as no risk to the public, will take the heat off overcrowded jails for a while.
Government must use this respite to set out how it will reserve prison for serious and violent offenders Juliet LyonPrison Reform TrustGovernment must use this respite to set out how it will reserve prison for serious and violent offenders Juliet LyonPrison Reform Trust
"Instead of lurching from crisis to crisis, government must use this respite to set out how it will reserve prison for serious and violent offenders.""Instead of lurching from crisis to crisis, government must use this respite to set out how it will reserve prison for serious and violent offenders."
Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, Jan Berry said: "A short-term revolving-door policy does nothing to protect the public, to motivate police officers or addresses the prison crisis in the long term.Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, Jan Berry said: "A short-term revolving-door policy does nothing to protect the public, to motivate police officers or addresses the prison crisis in the long term.
"Whilst in the future it could be made possible to effectively monitor more offenders in the community, the structure and the resources are not in place to make this a safe or viable option at the present time.""Whilst in the future it could be made possible to effectively monitor more offenders in the community, the structure and the resources are not in place to make this a safe or viable option at the present time."
On Monday, the Prison Governors Association said convicts should be set free a week early to stop court and police cells being used instead of jails and give the system some "breathing space".On Monday, the Prison Governors Association said convicts should be set free a week early to stop court and police cells being used instead of jails and give the system some "breathing space".