PM Starmer
The UK was on Tuesday due to release early a second batch of 1,000 prisoners as the government launched a review of sentencing to ease chronic overcrowding in jails.
The controversial policy previously saw 1,700 prisoners freed early last month.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood pledged that earlier mistakes that led to 37 ineligible prisoners being erroneously freed had now been “ironed out”.
The review will consider options for tougher non-custodial punishments for some convicted criminals to ensure prison space is available to incarcerate dangerous offenders.
They include “nudge” technology — watches or apps to encourage compliance with conditions imposed on offenders — as well as home detention curfews.
The early release scheme has seen some so-called non-violent offenders who have complied with certain conditions released after serving 40 per cent of their sentence instead of the usual 50 per cent.
Former justice secretary David Gauke who is chairing the review said the prison population — currently around 89,000 — was rising by 4,500 each year with 90 per cent of those sentenced to custody being reoffenders. Punch
