Some victims were NOT warned of prisoner release dates - sparking fears of a ticking time bomb after it emerges domestic abusers and sex offenders are among 1,700 freed early
Some victims were not warned of the early prison release dates of their offenders, it is understood.
Some victims were not warned of the early prison release dates of their offenders, it is understood.
Both domestic abusers and sex offenders were among the 1,700 people freed by Labours early prisoner release scheme today, sparking fears of a ticking time bomb before more crimes occur.
More than 5,000 are to be set loose over the next six weeks, with everyone eligible for release apart from violent criminals jailed for more than four years.
Those set free include hardened drug dealers, violent domestic abusers and even people who have played roles in the killing of teenagers, much to the fury of their victims loved ones.
Not all victims of crime were made aware of their offenders early release date, the Victims Commissioner for England and Wales has said, warning that some victims may not have had the chance to seek protective measures.
People released from prison today walk along the street with their belongings in bags
A person released from prison walks along the street with their possessions in bags
Baroness Newlove, the victims commissioner for England and Wales, said that from the start of the scheme, she sought assurances that all impacted victims would be told of any early release dates before it happened.
I understand this has not been possible in every case, leaving some victims unaware of their offenders early release, she said in a statement.
While I recognise the challenges in reaching certain groups of victims, this is regrettable and must be addressed.
Domestic abusers and sex offenders were among those released, according to the Napo probation union.
The Ministry of Justice highlighted the eligibility for the scheme was based on the offence, not the offender.
There have also been concerns about the impact on communities where they are released with some admitting they will immediately become homeless after they are set free.
Jack Creighton, 54, told reporters he was going to spend the night on a park bench due to having no accommodation lined up.
MailOnline analysis has showed that another 7,000 criminals would need to be released from prison to tackle overcrowding.
Many prisoners were released from prison early across the UK today
This is the equivalent of nearly ten prisons worth of inmates being freed.
Capacity, as measured by Her Majestys Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS), reflects the decent standard of accommodation the service aspires to provide all prisoners – known as certified normal accommodation (CNA).
The latest figures for July show prisons in England and Wales had a CNA capacity of just shy of 79,900.
However, there were 88,521 convicts behind bars as of Friday, according to Ministry of Justice (MoJ) statistics.
As a result, inmates are often crammed into a single room with another prisoner. In some cases, three people may share cells designed for two.
