How to make early prison release work
Sir Mark Rowley is completely justified in his fears for public safety (UK's most senior police officer criticises early prison release scheme, 28 May). We confuse the lines between punishment, prison sentencing, deterrence and the desire to prevent reoffending.
We can readily identify those who are less likely to reoffend – those who are over 25 and no longer testosterone-fuelled, those who do not have a drug habit, have a home and family to go to, and a means of earning an income.
We know, too, that if prison works as a deterrence, its greatest impact is in the first few days of being there. Thereafter, life becomes institutionalised.
Releasing those from prison who qualify as above, and allowing them to satisfy their sentences with meaningful community employment, may not be the fairest way of reducing the number of people currently in prison, but it is likely to be the safest and most effective way forward for the convicted individual, the taxpayer and society as a whole.Andrew LeslauHenley on Thames, Oxfordshire
Police chiefs complain that violent criminals released early will affect public safety. This is misleading. First, only 5.7% of crimes lead to an arrest, and some are acquitted.
It follows that at any time, the great majority of perpetrators of violent crime are on the streets. Early releases will make a relatively small difference.
Second, a violent criminal will currently be released after half their sentence. Say they are 30 years old. This gives them decades to commit further crimes. Adding one or two years to this will not have much impact on total crime.
Third, some of those released early will be convicted of a further crime sooner and return to prison for longer, reducing the impact of early release.
A complex issue is being highly oversimplified by the police chiefs.Peter WestLondon
As you rightly point out in your editorial (The Guardian view on sentencing reform: a landmark chance for change, 25 May): 'The review rightly says that relationships between probation staff and offenders should get priority.'
What is not mentioned are the enormous cost savings in moving from prison to community service sentences (estimated to be as much 40 times less). These huge cost savings would pay for all the additional probation staff, as well for much improved training and professionalisation for supervisors, upon which the long-term success of this scheme crucially depends.Adam HartCommunity service supervisor, East Northamptonshire, 1977-80
Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
32 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Tube pervert, 30, who targeted lone women to sexually assault them on the Underground is jailed for just 27 weeks
A man who sexually assaulted three women on various train services across the capital, including the London Underground, has been jailed for just 27 weeks. Ahmad Ahmedzai, 30, of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, reportedly targeted lone women on trains in London on three separate occasions last year. British Transport Police (BTP) said Ahmedzai was on a train from Bushey to London Euston when he sexually assaulted a 28-year-old woman multiple times on September 10. The train was very busy so the victim was unable to move away from the man, the force added. Ahmedzai was then on a Jubilee line train on November 2 from Bermondsey when he sexually assaulted another 28-year-old woman on a busy train service. The man then sexually assaulted a 22-year-old woman on November 25 while on a very busy train from Watford Junction to London Euston. The three victims reported the assaults to BTP and provided descriptions of Ahmedzai. Oficers were then able to obtain CCTV and the man was identified through facial recognition. The individual was sentenced on Friday, May 30 at Inner London Crown Court to 27 weeks in prison following a BTP investigation. He pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault. He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for seven years, which could result in further custodial time if he breaches it. He will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and pay costs of £687. The SHPO means Ahmedzai can only travel on the Transport for London (TfL) network when using an oyster card, a contactless debit or credit card linked to an account in his name. When travelling outside the TfL network he has to book any ticket in advance and notify the police in advance of travel. Investigating officer Detective Constable Jack Leach said: 'Ahmedzai is a dangerous predator who targeted women on busy services in order to hide his sick antics, but due to the brave actions of those he targeted, by reporting the crimes to us we were able to catch him. 'There is zero-tolerance for sexual offences on the rail network and we will do everything in our power to bring offenders to justice.' He added: 'If you are the victim of a crime on the rail network, you can report by texting 61016 discreetly or calling 0800 405040. Always call 999 in an emergency.'
Telegraph
38 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Labour's sanctions on Israel are disgraceful folly
It is one thing for the UK to impose sanctions on autocratic enemies like Russia. But to do the same to a democratic ally is reprehensible. The decision to pick out two members of the Israeli government for prohibition is extraordinary from a Government which refuses to proscribe Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or the Muslim Brotherhood. David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, has banned Itamar Ben-Gvir, the National Security Minister, and Bezalel Smotrich, the Finance Minister, from visiting the UK over comments they made on Gaza. Any assets in this country will be frozen. It is true that these individuals are on the extremes, even in Israel where their support for expanding West Bank settlements is controversial. Both politicians are ultra-nationalists whose continued presence in Benjamin Netanyahu's Cabinet is preventing the collapse of the coalition. But after initially declaring support for Israel after the October 7 2023 atrocities, Labour is in danger of being seen to side with Hamas. Backbench MPs are agitating for a far tougher line than the suspension of trade talks or curbs on arms sales. They want the UK to recognise a Palestinian state at a conference in New York later this month. That would be a serious mistake and perhaps Mr Lammy thinks he can head off party critics with limited action against individuals. But where does it stop? The two ministers are not being targeted for something they have done but for what they have said. It is unprecedented for Britain to treat politicians serving in the government of a friendly power in this way. How will Mr Lammy feel if Israel now bans him for the criticism he has voiced?
BBC News
41 minutes ago
- BBC News
Ramsgate baby murder accused found gaming on phone by police
A man was found gaming on his phone by police after shaking his baby daughter so hard he caused "catastrophic" brain injuries, a court has Holford, 24, is accused of murdering Everleigh Stroud, who was rushed to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, Kent, on 21 April remained there in a vegetative state until she died, aged 14 months, on 27 May of Ramsgate, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in November last year, denies murder and causing actual bodily harm. On Tuesday, jurors at Canterbury Crown Court heard that Everleigh also had bone fractures, bruising to her face, atrophy to her eyes leading to her going blind and injuries to her Eloise Marshall KC told the court: "There is no dispute those injuries were inflicted by Thomas Holford," adding that they had been caused the time of the incident, Holford was living with his then 16-year-old girlfriend and her parents at an address in Wallwood Road, partner had stayed with a friend on 20 April to celebrate her birthday, leaving Holford to care for Everleigh overnight, the court next morning Everleigh's grandmother Kelly Stroud called 999, telling the operator the five-week-old baby "looked like she was in agony" and was unresponsive and barely breathing. Police attending the scene remarked that Holford appeared to be in a "good mood" as he played games on his phone while his daughter was being rushed to also noted a bag of herbal cannabis and a grinder next to a baby's bottle in the room where he had slept with Marshall added Holford "showed little emotion" and did not answer the majority of police questions when interviewed, except to say that he would not do anything to hurt his trial continues.
