Strangeways here we go: The men walking free from prison
manchestereveningnews.co.ukThe sun is shining outside Strangeways prison as people wait patiently for their loved ones to emerge. Anticipation builds every time the tall metal door slides to the side, revealing the latest prisoner to be let out.
Over a period of two hours on Tuesday morning (October 22), 14 men walk free from HMP Manchester - some of whom are leaving earlier than expected.
Around 1,100 prisoners are being released across England and Wales as part of emergency plans to ease overcrowding in jails.
It is the second round of the early release scheme which saw around 1,700 prisoners have their time in prison cut short back in September. READ MORE: Firefighter, 44, died due to cocaine after day out drinking with colleagues The government has defended the policy which reduces the proportion of a sentence most offenders must serve behind bars from 50 per cent to 40 per cent, warning that courts would have nowhere to send convicted criminals if prisons run out of space.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk