In a bid to address severe prison overcrowding, the UK government plans to release around 1,700 inmates early, with approximately 30 of those set to return to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. This decision has sparked concerns about potential risks to public safety, particularly regarding domestic abuse survivors and gang violence, as offenders serving less than five years are included in the release.
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Critics argue that the government’s failure to build adequate prison capacity has forced this move, with some prisoners being released after serving only 40% of their sentences. While serious offenders like murderers and rapists are excluded from this early release, domestic abusers may still be let out, raising alarms about the safety of their victims.
The Ministry of Justice is coordinating the release and aims to recruit additional probation officers to manage the demand. Local councils have been warned to prepare for the impact of these releases, particularly concerning homelessness among those freed.
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