Starmer refuses to promise that domestic abusers will not be released early under emergency measures to combat prison overcrowding

[IwantToRetire]

After being asked about the release schemes, the Prime Minister said ministers are "doing everything" to ensure domestic abusers are not released early but stopped short of confirming that they will not.

Speaking to broadcasters in Dublin, Sir Keir was discussing reports that there was a loophole in the early release scheme which could see domestic abusers released early.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/starmer-prisons-alex-chalk-domestic-abuse-early-release-overcrowding/

The temporary scheme, which comes into effect on Tuesday, will see some prisoners released after serving 40% of their sentence behind bars in a bid to ease overcrowding.

There are exemptions from the scheme, including for domestic abusers, but newspapers have reported some domestic violence-related crimes are not always reported as such, leading to concerns these prisoners could be eligible for early release.

The prison population reached a new record high of 88,521 people on Friday and has risen by more than 1,000 people over the past four weeks.

The sharp rise is likely to have been driven by those involved in the recent disorder across parts of the country.

https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/national/24569929.government-doing-everything-prevent-early-release-domestic-abusers/

I've been following this prisons saga with interest. I did wonder if they could release enough non violent women that they can turn over a women's prison to house men. I also understand why they imprisoned people for : 'tweeting' because those Draconian sentences did completely stop the rioting. However, what I don't understand is why the government doesn't use the same technique for men guilty of violence, sexual assault or viewing child sex abuse images. Remand men in custody and give them incredibly long sentences. Send them to Estonian prisons. Make it instantly painful to commit a violent or sexual crime. It worked on the riots so do it for male violent and sexual offending. I do think in the long term the focus has to be on rehabilitation but in the short term we need a pause button and to get these men off the streets.

I have been wondering if the Estonian Govt. has consulted its own population before offering to turn Estonia into a large-scale Rikers Island.

Given the population seems to be less than 1.5M, I can't help thinking that this might have quite an impact on the population. I'm also baffled as to where all of this capacity will come from.

Is there a deal with Ryanair for prison visits? Will people fly into Tampere and catch a prison bus from there?

because those Draconian sentences did completely stop the rioting

As not all of the arrests, let alone sentencing had happened by the time the riots stop, I dont think this is the case.

The rioting stopped because??
some people realised they had swallowed total lies??
people (men) thinking they would be met by hundreds like them, found they weren't??
local social pressure, reaction to the ransacking etc., made people (men) realise they weren't really gaining friends??
news coverage depicted them as moronic, gullible hooligans in contrast to sections of society that came together to undo their damage and express sorrow for the horrific deaths of 3 young girls??

What will be interesting is whether in the future reckless "influencers" will be a bit more thoughtful about what they post (I can only remember reading about one who got prosecuted) and whether those looking for a conspiracy to blame anyone but the ruling class that their lives are not as prosperous as they once were will think, hang on asylum seekers with no power didn't stop the building of affordable housing, that was the people we voted for.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy76dxkpjpjo

It's the kind of thing Joe Stalin used to go in for. Round up all the troublemakers and send them to the salt mines in Kazakhstan.

It's amazing how quickly Starmer has pivoted from denouncing the Rwanda plan as a stunt that wouldn't solve anything (where he did have a bit of a point) to planning his own cut-price gulag in Estonia.

A No 10 spokesperson said renting prison cells in Estonia had been the policy of the previous government and current ministers had made “no such plans or announcement with regard to Estonia”.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/sep/06/estonia-prisons-uk-criminals

Well, one can only hope Keir isn't a literary man, or he might remember that in PD James' Children of Men the authoritarian government turns the Isle of Man into a penal colony.

I'm waiting to see if 'no plans to' relates to actually doing it for youth movement schemes

If it does then the phrase means nothing

UK has a prisons minister, the very well respected Sir James Timpson, who has done a lot for prison reform. He has been silent on this, presumably because he doesn't agree with more people going to prison. We need prison reform and rehabilitation, not putting more in there. Interesting that the 'rioters' all pleaded guilty.

To be fair, Labour seem to hate everyone apart from male, public sector workers.

Wonder if Jess Phillips will have anything to say on this

They made a big promise re halving violence against women and headlines this morning on the prison release and domestic abusers are in conflict

So many promises were a nothing

And so it begins!!!

https://x.com/Telegraph/status/1833095023958618504

https://www.womensaid.org.uk/womens-aid-issue-warning-as-more-than-1500-prisoners-across-the-country-are-set-to-be-released-under-the-early-release-scheme/

No, that case is not part of the early release scheme, he is not being released after serving 40% of his sentence.
He was jailed in 1997 with a minimum term (reduced to) 18 years. He has served 27 years.

But actually, so it does begin.

Presumably this is why Starmer wouldn’t confirm they wouldn’t release DV abusers. Poor poor woman.

(Apols for the Daily Mail link- that’s how it was sent to me!)

The images of early release prisoners celebrating together with pensioners vote is a very depressing day

Horrific. After all her bravery getting him put away.

No doubt all the party first before people will say as its being done by Labour its okay - I wonder if local people will riot at early release prisoners taking up hotel rooms?

The Ministry of Justice is keen to distance this policy from the Home Office's housing of migrants in hotels, which costs the taxpayer millions of pounds a day.

"If an offender is at risk of homelessness upon release, they will be housed in community accommodation, and we expect to provide housing for the majority of offenders using existing provision.

"But should there not be enough provision, I have authorised probation directors to make use of alternative arrangements, including budget hotels, as a temporary measure for the cases that we will see in the next few weeks."

https://news.sky.com/story/early-release-prisoners-could-be-housed-in-budget-hotels-justice-secretary-13212309

Absolutely. I can barely comprehend how brave she would have needed to be.

I sincerely hope this is not the first of many such stories this week.

Predictable concerns from Police.

www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/sep/10/police-left-to-deal-with-fallout-of-poorly-planned-early-release-of-1700-prisoners

This makes me sick. The threshold to go to prison is pretty high anyway. I've been on a jury that convicted an evil bastard of sexual assault and he did not even end up getting sent to prison. It wasn't "just" one woman either. He had a great method (which I am not going to disclose) of getting victims and was skillful in selecting the more vulnerable ones. He didn't even go to prison. So I dread to think about how bad the crimes have to be to actually go to prison - and now under this idiotic regime not to even serve anywhere near all of the sentence. The case took over 5 years to come to prison because when the first victim came forwards, there wasn't enough direct evidence - so even though the police knew, he was free to carry on doing it - completely unchecked. It was only when another victim came forwards that this case even got to court. And goodness knows how many victims just got the fuck away from him and didn't report it (which is what I would have done).

I am disgusted at the release of prisoners who have seriously harmed others.

YES i thought exactly the same

I am beginning to wonder if some of Starmer's early headline actions are the result of focus groups, rather than thought through policies.

ie cut winter fuel to pensioners using the chronicle unfair cliff edge division they did leaves many pensioners just above pension credits poorer that those on pension credits with the promise they will be rich in April - but not to worry if you have died of cold in the meantime.

why - because it tells the financial sector that Labour can be "tough" and as pensioners cant go on strike no threat to the economy, and which I hadn't realised until today the vast number of people who believe that all pensioners are rich, living in mansions and spending their fuel allowance at shopping centres. This mainly from young people who go on and on about pension age people all (actually under 20%)got free university, all own homes, etc., whilst the reality is manyt have worked from the are of 15 on low wages and few perks, and may well have been conscripted etc., etc.. Actually had a phone in where people were saying pensioners have had it easy for too long! (a 1% tax increase on the richest would have bought in far more money, let alone a levy of overseas home owners who leave houses empty)

Dumping any committment to women's sex based rights, because they want young people to like them and vote for them. Nobody cares about boring old dinasours losing their rights.

Its really worth looking at what they are doing, not in terms of the supposed rights and wrongs, but who they are virtue signalling too.

Big shout out to Rosie Duffield who was no only prepared to abstain in the pensioners vote today, but to give interviews about it.

As with the 2 child tax allowance and the Starmer stazi saying you should all be punished. Who is the message of we will punish those who disobey us, aimed at. Does this make Labour a better Government.

As Rosie Duffield said, I am elected by my constituents, and my first responsibililty is to them.

But seems that most Labour MPs have no spine.

If that it how easy it is to get unthought out, punitive decisions through the HoC under Labour, what could they not get away with.

Not only will they re-write the GRA, but probably annul the single sex exemptions in the EA to exhibit their macho political muscle.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c23ljkrx0e2o

Grim. The government tried to claim that abusers were not included, but later on claim that possibly their convictions had included abuse/dv/sexual assault but also other crimes, and that they've served the time for the previous sorts of offences.

Incredible logic.

What is the rationale here? Cut winter fuel allowance, raise taxes, keep the two child benefit cap, and now to cheer us all up - release the rapists!

How is any of this improving life for us?

I like Rosie Duffied but she should have voted against the motion. Keir Starmer has no respect for her anyway, or he'd have given her a post as a Women's Minister.