Prisoners freed early are returning to jail at rapid rate, governors tell BBC
Prison governors report that inmates released under the 2024 early release scheme are reoffending at a high rate, creating a 'revolving door' effect. This comes as the government prepares for a new round of releases in October, despite warnings that prisons are already at 97% capacity.
Why it matters
The high recidivism rate among early-release prisoners challenges the effectiveness of current government strategies to manage prison overcrowding.
Image source, Andrew Aitchison/In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images Image caption, File photo
Prisoners who were freed under the government's last early release scheme are returning to jail at a rapid rate, prison governors have told the BBC.
They say they are seeing the same inmates, who were let out as part of the 2024 early release scheme to ease overcrowding, coming back after reoffending - including for breaching their conditions.
"The churn is what stresses me out," said one governor in the Midlands, describing it as a "revolving door".
It comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced changes to the next early release scheme, starting in October, following outrage that the killers of PC Andrew Harper were among those eligible to be released.
On Sunday, Burnham announced that they will not be, telling the BBC that anyone convicted of unlawful killing will be excluded from the scheme.
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