Tom Wheatley, the president of the Prison Governors' Association, criticized the UK government's early release plan, stating it may only alleviate overcrowding for up to 12 months due to ongoing riots and increased prison population. He emphasized that the current strategy will not be effective in maintaining manageable prison levels, as the recent civil disorder has filled cells rapidly, indicating a need for urgent government action to either reduce the prisoner numbers or construct new facilities.
In her speech, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood defended the SDS40 early release scheme, arguing that the 40% term served threshold is not permanent, stating, 'I do not think that this 40% level should stand forever more. I am committing to reviewing this again, in 18 months' time, when we believe the situation in our prisons will have stabilized.' This reflects a recognition of the need for flexibility in prison regulations, yet raises questions about the timing and effectiveness of such measures.
Wheatley emphasized the looming challenges for the probation service, expressing concerns about managing the increased caseload from the upcoming release of 5,500 prisoners this month and in October. He stated, 'We remain concerned about the effect of the large number of prisoners released on the probation caseload,' highlighting the pressing need for additional resources and support for the probation system to cope with this influx.
Wheatley urged the government to proactively address the prison overcrowding issue, warning that without significant action, the country might face another crisis as soon as the next summer. He stated, 'We don't think that the measures are going to give the government 18 months because of the riots,' advocating for either urgent changes to how the prison population is managed or investments in new prison facilities.
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