Domestic abuse survivors may take their own lives due to the early release of their attackers from prison, ministers have been warned. Sir Mark Rowley, Britain’s top police officer, expressed concern that “very dangerous” men will benefit from Andy Burnham‘s soft justice programme.
A leading campaigner declared that victims are being “failed by a system that is supposed to protect you”. Frontline officers fear that criminals being let out after serving as little as 33% of their sentences will trigger a crime wave.
Rachel Williams, a survivor of domestic abuse, said: “Some of the most dangerous, obsessive and prolific perpetrators are being released back into our communities.” She added that victims are expected to live with the consequences and may feel they have no option but to return to the perpetrator due to lack of protection.
Williams warned that some victims may take their own lives, particularly as suicide rates appear to be rising. She also stated that others may feel they have no option but to safety-plan and return to the perpetrator because there is no one to protect them.
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Some 700 criminals were let out of prison early on Thursday, and another 650 are due to be released next week. In total, 4,500 convicts will be let out early under Ministry of Justice plans.
By June, criminals sentenced to 12 years or more will have benefited from the scheme. Up to 50,000 offenders a year are likely to be freed early under Labour’s sentencing changes, with thousands eligible every month.
Sir Mark Rowley warned that “prolific and volatile” criminals are being let out into communities at an astonishing rate. He admitted that many offenders are being bailed back into the community on the same conditions with “zero sanction”.
The Scotland Yard chief also said that the force is arresting “two or three early release offenders a week”. Officers in London are dealing with more than 100 breaches of electronic tagging orders a day.
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Sir Mark stated: “We’re seeing 95% plus of the tagging breaches being bailed back into the community on the same condition, so there is zero sanction.” He described the situation as a “revolving door”, with more prolific and volatile people being put back out into communities.
Sir Mark Rowley expressed concern about repeat domestic violence offenders and stalkers being released early. He said: “I’m really concerned, and I’ve heard Claire Waxman, the national victims’ commissioner, talk about issues around those obsessive offenders who are repeat domestic violence offenders, repeat stalkers.”
Det Ch Supt Luke Williams wrote to MPs and police chiefs, expressing concern about the early release scheme. He stated that the release of known prolific offenders back into the community, only to immediately reoffend, puts communities at risk and demands policing resources.