Amid an overcrowding crisis in British jails, the U.K. government made the controversial decision to release thousands of prisoners on Tuesday. The prison population in England and Wales had reached an all-time high, prompting the government to take action.
Business minister Jonathan Reynolds defended the move, stating that violent offenders and domestic abusers would not be eligible for early release. The decision was deemed necessary to prevent “unchecked criminality” due to a lack of available prison spaces.
Despite facing backlash, Reynolds blamed the previous Conservative government for failing to address the issue earlier. Chief Inspector of Probation Martin Jones highlighted the extreme pressure on prisons, with overcrowding at close to 100% capacity.
While concerns about released prisoners reoffending persist, the government assured that safeguards were in place. However, inmates involved in anti-immigration riots were not exempt from the early release plans.
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