England's steps to reduce prison congestion led to violence against women

Authorities have been warned that victims of domestic violence are at severe risk due to the government's decision to release prisoners early, aimed at reducing prison overcrowding in England and Wales. Victims' Commissioner Claire Waxman and Domestic Abuse Commissioner Nicole Jacobs have written to ministers expressing their strong concerns about the reintegration of individuals who have committed crimes against women and girls, before adequate safety measures are ensured through the implementation of this legal change.

Therefore, they strongly urge the government to immediately suspend this early release program.

Charities point out that victims have been plunged into severe fear upon receiving letters informing them that these offenders are due to be released from next September, with some even resorting to installing security cameras (CCTV) in their homes. While these releases are being carried out under new laws introduced as a solution to the prison crisis, there are accusations that Justice Secretary David Lammy and Prisons Minister James Timpson have broken promises regarding the protection that should be afforded to victims beforehand. Specifically, Ms. Jacobs highlights that the promised specialized telephone support service for victims and the full risk assessments that should be conducted before offenders are released have not yet been initiated.

Since the Labour Party came to power in July 2024, over 38,000 prisoners have been released under emergency conditions, and the new law passed in January makes no exceptions for those involved in serious crimes, domestic abuse, or terrorist acts. Commenting on this, former Security Minister Jess Phillips emphasizes that the release of all prisoners involved in violence against women should be halted until a proper risk assessment is carried out. She further stated that it is absolutely unjustifiable to place the responsibility for the prison crisis on the shoulders of victims. According to the new law, less serious offenders are eligible for release after serving one-third of their sentence, and some sexual and violent offenders after serving half of their sentence.

However, the Ministry of Justice states that public safety and victim support are its priorities. Ministers say that by 2028, a £700 million investment will be made in probation services, and offenders will be subjected to strict monitoring through methods such as electronic tagging, stringent license conditions, and curfews. A government spokesperson stated that the government is taking steps to resolve the inherited prison crisis by building 14,000 new prison places and reforming the sentencing process to ensure dangerous criminals remain incarcerated.