GB News host Ellie Costello has expressed frustration over Labour’s plans to continue with the early release of prisoners stating that it could cause a “cycle” of reoffending unless more prisons are built.
Speaking on GB News, Ellie said: “We’re looking at these alternatives. We’re looking at fines, tough communities, sentences, things like that.
“What about building new prisons? Because there’s already warnings out in some of the papers today that if more and more people are not released we’re going to be back to the same situation that we saw in summer by next year. I mean, this is just a cycle that we’re in unless more prisons are built.”
Political commentator Theo Usherwood responded to Ellie’s concerns, highlighting the “revolving door” issue in the prison system.
Ellie Costello criticised the scheme from the government
GB News
He explained: “This is this is a sort of it becomes a revolving door where you have prisoners who are released from prison they go and reoffend, and then they’re back in prison.
“Or they breached the terms of their license and they’re back into prison.”
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“I think there is a clue in the appointment of Lord Timpson. Of course, he ran Timpson’s, the shoe repair company, and here he employs a lot of former offenders.
“He made the comments previously that only a third of prisoners be there.
“So there’s going to be a drive now to try and keep people out of prison, because building prisons is so expensive.
“That’s the argument that the government is making. There isn’t the money to do it and therefore they need to find an alternative.”
Around 1,700 prisoners were released early in SeptemberPAMore than 1,200 prisoners jailed for over five years are due to be released early from prisons across England and Wales.
This marks the second wave of early releases aimed at alleviating the overcrowding crisis.
The early release scheme, while aimed at addressing prison overcrowding, has raised concerns about potential long-term consequences.
Critics argue that without adequate support and rehabilitation programmes, released prisoners may struggle to reintegrate into society.
The second wave of releases will take place from today
PA
The scheme, which allows eligible inmates to serve 40 per cent rather than 50 per cent of their sentences, has faced criticism for potentially undermining efforts to reduce reoffending and maintain public safety.
The early release scheme, known as SDS40, was expanded to include prisoners serving sentences of five years or more.
Lord Timpson stated that authorities are “as ready as we can be” for today’s releases. The scheme aims to create up to 5,500 extra prison places.
Eligible prisoners have been steadily leaving jails since the changes were implemented.