Prison governors have warned that inmates released under the government’s 2024 early release program are returning to custody at a rapid pace. Officials report witnessing a “revolving door” effect, where individuals let out to alleviate severe overcrowding are quickly re-incarcerated for new offenses or for violating the terms of their release conditions.
One governor based in the Midlands described the situation as a constant “churn,” expressing frustration at the cycle of inmates being released only to return shortly after. This feedback from the frontline comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced significant adjustments to the next phase of the early release scheme, which is set to begin in October. The changes follow public outcry regarding the initial eligibility of the killers of PC Andrew Harper.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister confirmed that individuals convicted of unlawful killing will now be excluded from the program. Burnham acknowledged that this policy shift will result in hundreds more people remaining behind bars, a significant challenge given that prisons across England and Wales are currently operating at more than 97% capacity.
A governor from a facility in the north of England criticized the government’s current strategy as a collection of “short-term solutions,” emphasizing an urgent need for additional capacity. They noted that creating extra cells within existing facilities is complex, as it requires more staff to monitor the increased population. With current staffing levels already stretched, the governor warned that the environment for prisoners is neither safe nor decent.
To address the systemic strain, the government has proposed plans to create more space by deporting foreign national prisoners and releasing some individuals serving indefinite sentences. However, these measures are unlikely to yield significant capacity by the time the October release cycle commences. To maintain the security of their positions, the three governors who spoke on the matter did so on the condition that their identities and specific prison locations remain undisclosed. The report also notes that who were let out as part of the 2024 early release scheme to ease overcrowding, coming back after reoffending – including for breaching their conditions, they say they are seeing the same inmates.
