Prisoners let out early to save cash, suggests ex-met chief

SOME offenders have been released far too early from jails, possibly to save money, according to a former Met Police Commissioner who has called for a review of automatic release of prisoners halfway through sentences.

Lord Stevens, who led the Met Police from 2000 to 2005, said: “There have been instances where people have been released from prison very, very early and far too quickly.

“There needs to be an argument about whether this is done because of trying to save money and the problems in prisons of violence rather than actually ensuring that people are serving sentences they should be.”

He backed a call from Baroness Newlove, the Victims Commissioner, in The Daily Telegraph earlier this week, for courts and judges to be required to be more honest about the actual length of sentence that offenders would serve.

“There needs to be transparency in terms of sentencing. People need to know, especially the victims,” said Lord Stevens. “They need to be treated with respect in terms of what will happen and the actual length of sentence.”

Asked if there should be a review of early release, he said: “Absolutely.”

He added: “Let’s have a proper assessment of what happens to them when they come out, who reoffends – we know reoffending rates are extremely high – and just as importantly that the resources are there to deal with them when they come out.”

He said probation must be beefed up, and warned of a crisis within the justice system over potential delays due to the time needed by police to investigate evidence from phones and other devices.

“We have to be very careful we are not into a vicious circle here where people are not seeing justice take place.”