‘Don't release violent offenders early', police chiefs warn Labour
They have also warned there will be a surge in reoffending by freed prisoners unless Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, provides extra money for probation officers to supervise the thousands of prisoners set to be released early.
One senior police source told The Telegraph: 'We can see why the Government has to do this after a decade of underinvestment in criminal justice but we have some concerns about what the impact will be on policing. We don't feel it's well understood at this point.'
The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) have written to Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, saying that letting criminals 'out of prison' earlier must not mean the offenders are 'out of control'.
Under the Government's plans, killers, rapists and other violent offenders serving four years or more in jail will be eligible for release after serving just half of their sentence rather than two-thirds, if they behave well and engage with rehabilitation schemes.
Other less serious criminals such as burglars, thieves and fraudsters on standard determinate sentences with earlier release points can be freed after just a third of their time if they behave well.
Sentences under one year will also be scrapped unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as domestic abusers or stalkers who pose a risk and offenders who have breached orders linked to violence against women and girls.
The plans were recommended by an independent sentencing review headed by David Gauke, the former Tory justice secretary, and accepted by Ms Mahmood in order to free up 9,800 prison places and avoid overcrowded jails in England and Wales running out of cells.
The Justice Secretary, however, rejected proposals by the review to free offenders on 'extended determinate sentences' where a judge has set a specific time limit in jail because the court regarded them as dangerous.
Chief Constable Sacha Hatchett, who leads on criminal justice for the NPCC, said: 'Out of prison should not mean out of control.
'Adequate funding to support these measures must be reflected in the upcoming spending review, as well as investment in probation services and technology, including electronic monitoring, to enable policing to work across criminal justice agencies to monitor offenders and reduce reoffending.'
She added: 'It is crucial for public safety that high-risk offenders, including those convicted of violent or sexual offences, and those who pose a threat to national security, are exempt from early prison release.
'Robust prison sentences for these crimes must remain in place as a strong deterrent and means of keeping the public safe. It is also crucial that victims of domestic abuse are protected and that perpetrators understand that there will be harsh consequences for breaching orders.'
Ms Mahmood has said she has secured an extra £700 million for the probation service in the spending review as well as deploying 'tens of thousands' more electronic tags to place high-risk offenders under effective 'house arrest' with curfews at night and during the day alongside tighter exclusions which they must not leave.
However, there are still concerns about whether the funding will be sufficient given consistent warnings by probation watchdogs that many officers are inexperienced, over-stretched and disillusioned.
A senior police source said: 'When they are released, there needs to be proper robust supervision which can only take place if there is a probation service that is sufficiently resourced and able to do the job.'
Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, has described the plans as a 'get out of jail free card for dangerous criminals' who would 'terrorise streets and torment our country'.
Dame Nicole Jacobs, domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales, said the changes would: 'Send a clear message to domestic abusers that they can now offend with little consequence.'
She added: 'I recognise the difficult situation ministers are in and that our approach to sentencing must change to address the prison capacity crisis.
'But watering down our criminal justice system is not the answer – especially when it comes at the expense of victims' safety and cuts short the justice they have fought so hard for.'
Ms Mahmood has insisted the measures had to be taken to stop the total 'breakdown of law and order'. She said: 'If our prisons collapse, courts are forced to suspend trials. The police must halt their arrests. Crime goes unpunished, criminals run amok and chaos reigns.'
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