'Around 1,700' prisoners to be released early TOMORROW amid record numbers in cells
manchestereveningnews.co.ukAround 1,700 people are expected to be released early from prison tomorrow. Hundreds of prisoners will be allowed to walk free on Tuesday (September 10) as part of efforts to tackle overcrowding.
The prison population reached a record high of 88,521 people last Friday - with more than 1,000 new prisoners joining that total in the past four weeks.
Prison overcrowding has been one of the new Labour government's top priorities since being elected in July. Within days, plans to cut the proportion of sentences inmates must serve behind bars from 50 per cent to 40 per cent were revealed, with the scheme coming into effect tomorrow.
Dame Diana Johnson, the policing minister, told the BBC: “For those who will be released tomorrow, probation have been working very hard to make sure that there are plans in place. READ MORE: Manchester United's Old Trafford plan just took a big step forward “People are released on licence and can be recalled if they commit further offences.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk