Some prisoners wrongly freed under UK early release scheme, ministry says

26/9/2024 18:09

        Around three dozen prisoners were mistakenly freed from jail under an expansion of the early release scheme put in place by the British government to tackle prison overcrowding in England and Wales, the justice ministry said on Thursday.
        
        Around 1,750 convicts were freed this month as part of a government scheme that made some prisoners eligible for release after serving 40% of their sentences behind bars, down from 50%. Thousands more are expected to be let out.
        
        A justice ministry spokesperson said in a statement, confirming a report by the Daily Mirror newspaper on Wednesday, that a very small number of offenders, charged incorrectly and sentenced under outdated legislation, had been released wrongly.
        
        A total of 37 prisoners in jail for breaching restraining orders were incorrectly released but a majority are already back in prison. Five offenders have not yet been returned to jail.
        
        The ministry said the charges against the 37 were brought and progressed through the court under old legislation incorrectly, meaning the sentences were not identified as being ineligible for the early release scheme.