Hardened criminals locked up for longer

THE parole board has written to 2,000 of Britain’s most serious criminals to warn them that they are going to have to stay in prison longer because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In an unprecedented move, it has told the 2,000 that their face-to-face hearings have been cancelled and cannot take place as planned.

Instead, the board is now trying to reorganise them so they could be held by video link or, in less serious cases, decided purely through a paper exercise.

The delay could not only hinder the release of prisoners to ease the overcrowding crisis but also intensify resentment within jails among inmates denied a release after years behind bars. It will also prolong the wait for victims, who want to know where and when their attackers are freed.

Those seeking parole are generally the most serious criminals including killers, rapists, violent offenders, terrorists and lifers. They are only released if the parole board decides they are no longer a risk to the public.

Tensions in jails have also been exacerbated by all prisoners being placed in a total lockdown where they have to spend up to 23 hours a day in their cells with no visits from family or relatives.

Ministers are considering the early release of thousands of prisoners on remand or held for less serious offences.

The parole board letter, seen by The Sunday Telegraph, says: “We have taken the decision to cancel face-toface oral hearings, and so if your review was listed for an oral hearing, [it] cannot now take place as planned. This is because we believe that the health and well-being of our members, staff and participants in the parole system must come first.”