UK Prime Minister Attends the 79th United Nations General Assembly (Image: Getty)
The Prime Minister has said it is “deeply regrettable” that dozens of prisoners were let out early by mistake.
It was revealed today that around 37 people were released in error on September 10, because their offences for breaching restraining orders had been wrongly logged under old legislation.
This meant they were not flagged as not suitable for early release.
At least one of the prisoners remains at large, while others let out early included one who went on to commit a sexual offence shortly after securing his freedom.
He told reporters in New York: “It’s deeply regrettable that they were released.
“As I understand it to do with the classification under old legislation and I think all bar one are back in custody.
“But of course, I’m concerned, and we’ll ensure that all victims have the support that they need.”
The Ministry of Justice has now confirmed that all further planned releases of offenders affected by this issue have been halted, and guidance has been issued to staff to ensure future releases are accurate. The department is not aware of this issue affecting other offences, reports the Mirror.
Following Labour’s ascent to power, Shabana Mahmood announced a radical policy that would see prisoners released after serving just 40% of their sentences, down from the current halfway mark, lamenting it as an “emergency measure” needed “to avert a disaster”.
She slammed the Tory Government for allowing prisons in England and Wales to reach breaking point with overcrowding issues.
The Labour minister cautioned that without immediate action, the prisons could overflow, potentially leaving police powerless to make arrests and leading to widespread chaos with “looters running amok, smashing in windows, robbing shops and setting neighbourhoods alight”.
However, this emergency early release scheme won’t apply to everyone. Those serving time for grave violence or sexual crimes, specifically if their sentences exceed four years, are ruled out, along with domestic abuse offenders who’ve violated restraining orders.
Countering Labour’s stance, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson emphasized the commitment to public safety, stating: “Public safety is our first priority. That is why we took decisive action to fix the broken prison system we inherited and keep the most dangerous offenders locked up.
This included blocking the early release of domestic abuse offences such as stalking and controlling behaviour.”
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Keir Starmer hits out at ‘farcical’ attacks on him using donor’s £18m flat during Covid
Keir Starmer issued a renewed defence of Lord Alli’s donations today (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer issued a renewed defence of Lord Alli’s donations today, while admitting he does understand why the public and media continue to question his links to the Prime Minister and Labour Party.
Sir Keir used the top donor’s £18 million Covent Garden penthouse to urge the public to work from home during the pandemic.
In December 2021 he used the flat for an address to the nation following new Government guidance to fight the pandemic.
Christmas cards and a photo of his family had been added to the backdrop, suggesting he had attempted to pass the flat off as his own domicile.
While Downing Street has already said they are confident no rules have been broken, the story sparked further outrage.
Asked today why he had put a photo of his family in the backdrop of Lord Alli’s flat, Sir Keir flippantly said: “That was just part of a video we were putting out in relation to, I think it was during Covid.”
He joked: “Anybody who thinks that I was pretending it was my own home, the idea that I’ve got union jacks by my fireplace at home and or that I would invite a bunch of you lot into my living room to have a look around.
“I mean, I think the idea that I was trying to pretend that it was my home is pretty farcical.
“And no I’m not going to be inviting you in to film me in front of my fireplace. I’m very sorry, that’s about the last thing I’d do.”
However he did concede that he understands why people have questions about Lord Alli, and his role within Labour.
He said: “I understand why the public have questions about this. I think the best thing we can do is to explain the circumstances and be absolutely clear that nothing wrong has been done here.”
“Everybody has complied with all of the rules. Sometimes it takes time to go through the individual examples, which may or may not put the context for people to see and make their own judgments.
Sir Keir used the top donor’s £18 million Covent Garden penthouse (Image: Getty)
“But look, I know why you’re asking questions.”
Probed about what Lord Alli’s role in Downing Street and his party actually is, and whether he ever discusses policy with the donor, Sir Keir denied any such role.
The PM said Lord Alli is just a Labour peer who wanted a Labour victory.
He added: “That was his sole motivation. The fact that he is already a Labour lord takes away any sense that there’s a reward for him. He wanted a Labour victory that motivated him, and he got one.”
