Labour's prison plans, unveiled by Shabana Mahmood, have been slammed (Image: PA)
Labour is giving dangerous criminals an invitation to “cause carnage” by taking more controversial emergency decisions to ease overcrowding in prisons, Robert Jenrick has declared. The Shadow Justice Secretary accused the Government of “siding with criminals over the public” after the Ministry of Justice confirmed offenders recalled to jail will only be held for 28 days.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood claimed the move, which will create 1,400 additional spaces, was necessary to prevent the prison estate from collapsing in November. Ms Mahmood said police would not be able to make arrests and courts would be unable to hold trials, meaning there would be a “total breakdown of law and order” if prison chiefs ran out of cells. Inmates who commit a "serious further offence" once they are released, such as murder, rape or carrying a firearm, will not be included in the changes.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
Fly New York to Europein Luxury with La CompagnieLa Compagnie | Sponsored Sponsored
Book Now
Undo
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Keir Starmer breaks silence on prisons crisis and declares one thing he didn't want to do
25 Comments
Robert Jenrick warns prison officers will be killed unless government gets a grip
24 Comments
Labour civil war as minister Shabana Mahmood breaks ranks over grooming gangs inquiry
60 Comments
Tory politician's wife will stay in jail over migrant rant after horror Southport attack
142 Comments
Lucy Connolly's incarceration is a moral stain on Britain's so-called justice system
100 Comments
'Trade union' primary school teacher sacked by head 'intent on revenge' awarded ￡370K
9 Comments
Shoplifting and burglary crime wave explosion feared if short prison sentences are axed
5 Comments
Martin Lewis pushes for Winter Fuel Payment to pensioners on these council tax bands
5 Comments
Prison guard's 'throat slashed' in high-security jail
45 Comments
Huge assisted dying battle looms as future of bill hangs in balance
4 Comments
Lucy Connolly case is a disgrace - thousands of others should be jailed instead
30 Comments
Chris Brown released on bail with ￡5million security fee after GBH charge
Comments
Liz Kendall defies Labour critics to press ahead with 'killer' cuts
56 Comments
Asylum seeker can't be deported from UK despite drug and weapons convictions
Comments
2025's Most Comfortable Arch Support SandalsGraddi | Sponsored Sponsored
Read More
Undo
Paedophiles and rapists face chemical castration in new crackdown
27 Comments
Killers and rapists will be let out early under Labour's new prisons plan
103 Comments
Transform Your Space with Local Home BuilderHome Builder | Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Migration update as Labour tsar says one group should be 'deported immediately'
82 Comments
Woman used wigs, disguises and false papers to complete UK citizenship tests for 13 people
50 Comments
They Were So Beautiful Before; Now Look At Them; Number 10 Will Shock YouReportingly | Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Top prison governor locked up after fling with UK drug boss who gave her ￡12k Mercedes
11 Comments
POLL: Should paedophiles and rapists be castrated?
41 Comments
Sports Streaming Is Booming—Here’s How to Watch Everything LiveBudgetSmart | Search Ads | Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Keir Starmer breaks silence on prisons crisis and declares one thing he didn't want to do
25 Comments
Robert Jenrick warns prison officers will be killed unless government gets a grip
24 Comments
Act Like a Man: 5 Tips with St. Thomas Aquinas - Word on FireWord on Fire Catholic Ministries | Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Labour civil war as minister Shabana Mahmood breaks ranks over grooming gangs inquiry
60 Comments
Tory politician's wife will stay in jail over migrant rant after horror Southport attack
142 Comments
Dexcom G7 is proven to lower A1C and increase time in range3？？.Dexcom | Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Lucy Connolly's incarceration is a moral stain on Britain's so-called justice system
100 Comments
'Trade union' primary school teacher sacked by head 'intent on revenge' awarded ￡370K
9 Comments
Shia Labeouf's ConversionWord on Fire Catholic Ministries | Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Shoplifting and burglary crime wave explosion feared if short prison sentences are axed
5 Comments
Martin Lewis pushes for Winter Fuel Payment to pensioners on these council tax bands
5 Comments
Why More Americans Are Ditching Finger Pricks for This New DeviceGlucose Monitor | Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Prison guard's 'throat slashed' in high-security jail
45 Comments
Huge assisted dying battle looms as future of bill hangs in balance
4 Comments
Don't Take Any Prostate Pill Until You See Chris Hansen's New Report on Which Pills Really Work.prostatehealthstrategies | Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Lucy Connolly case is a disgrace - thousands of others should be jailed instead
30 Comments
Chris Brown released on bail with ￡5million security fee after GBH charge
Comments
Liz Kendall defies Labour critics to press ahead with 'killer' cuts
56 Comments
Asylum seeker can't be deported from UK despite drug and weapons convictions
Comments
Paedophiles and rapists face chemical castration in new crackdown
27 Comments
Killers and rapists will be let out early under Labour's new prisons plan
103 Comments
Migration update as Labour tsar says one group should be 'deported immediately'
82 Comments
Woman used wigs, disguises and false papers to complete UK citizenship tests for 13 people
50 Comments
Top prison governor locked up after fling with UK drug boss who gave her ￡12k Mercedes
11 Comments
POLL: Should paedophiles and rapists be castrated?
41 Comments
Keir Starmer breaks silence on prisons crisis and declares one thing he didn't want to do
25 Comments
Robert Jenrick warns prison officers will be killed unless government gets a grip
24 Comments
Labour civil war as minister Shabana Mahmood breaks ranks over grooming gangs inquiry
60 Comments
Tory politician's wife will stay in jail over migrant rant after horror Southport attack
142 Comments
Lucy Connolly's incarceration is a moral stain on Britain's so-called justice system
100 Comments
'Trade union' primary school teacher sacked by head 'intent on revenge' awarded ￡370K
9 Comments
Shoplifting and burglary crime wave explosion feared if short prison sentences are axed
5 Comments
The prison population is continuing to rise (Image: PA)
But domestic abusers, as well as those convicted of burglary, could be included.
Mr Jenrick said: “When questioned, the Justice Secretary could only say that sex offenders would be excluded.
Powered By
10 Sec
292.5K
14
Euro 2024: England fans confident ahead of kick off against Spain
Next
Stay
“That’s an invitation for dangerous criminals to cause carnage.
Sponsored
Startpage | Sponsored Sponsored
Install Now
Stop Search Trackers Now
Undo
“By telling prisoners that they will never serve their full sentence, even if they reoffend, the Justice Secretary has removed an important deterrent.”
Mr Jenrick added: “There are 10,350 foreign criminals in our jails. 17,000 people are awaiting trial.
“Instead of reducing those numbers, Labour have decided to let out criminals who reoffend early.
“They’re siding with criminals over the public.
“Labour’s Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has chosen to put the public at risk rather than deporting the foreign criminals who are clogging up our prisons.”
Offenders recalled to prison typically have to wait for another Parole Board hearing before they can be released again.
But under Labour’s changes, they will walk out automatically after 28 days.
Criminals subject to MAPPA arrangements – where multiple agencies draw up plans to protect the public and prevent them from reoffending – will not be included. Many domestic abusers fall into this category.
Justice sources believe more than half of recalls are linked to failing to comply with licence conditions, such as failing to contact a probation officer in time.
Prison bosses said male prisons in Britain are 99% full and will run out of space in November.
And the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) announced plans to start building three new prisons this year in a bid to make more space.
Ms Mahmood confirmed the MoJ had received ￡4.7bn for three new prisons as part of a “record prison expansion”.
The cash will see officials break ground on a site near HMP Gartree in Leicestershire later this year, while plans are under way for new prisons near HMP Grendon, in Buckinghamshire, and HMP Garth, in Lancashire.
Ms Mahmood told journalists: “The consequences of failing to act are unthinkable, but they must be understood.
“If our prisons overflow, courts cancel trials, police halt their arrests, crime goes unpunished, we reach a total breakdown of law and order.”
Ms Mahmood admitted she is prepared to be unpopular, amid public fury over the decisions to release criminals, to avoid another prison crisis.
She said: “I’m prepared to make sure we never, ever run out of prison places again.
“As we stand today, by November, we go down to zero.
“I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to keep this country safe, to make sure that we never run out of prison places, and that we never run out of prison places and we never see the collapse of the prison system or our wider law and order system.”
The chairman of the Prison Officers' Association said building new prisons will “not improve the current population crisis”.
Mark Fairhurst said: “The Government would be better off spending billions of taxpayers’ money on modernising the prison estate, funding an under-resourced probation service, providing more secure mental health beds and ensuring we have robust community sentences that the public have confidence in.
“Building new prisons will take years and will not improve the current population crisis.
Trending
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
"If new prisons are to be built, I hope the Labour Party's commitment to the biggest insourcing in a generation is applied and the new build prisons remain in the public sector."
Mr Fairhurst also warned of drones flying into UK prisons, branding it a “national security issue”.
He said drones are “going in and out like [at] Gatwick airport.”
The senior prison officer said: “Drones are an imminent threat, not only to prisons but to national security.
“I was watching a video last week of a one-person drone, which is basically the same as a helicopter.
“We know there are drones out there that can carry a payload of 75kg and now we’ve got a drone that acts as a helicopter — that’s an escape attempt. So we need to sort it out.
“We know there’s technology out there which can block a drone from entering our airspace. [One] of the excuses we get is: ‘Well, technology advances.’
“There really is no excuse. We should be able to secure our airspace, because it’s only a matter of time before a firearm is flown in by a drone.
“We’ve already had two scares — two prisons in full lockdown searches.”
The victims’ commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, expressed concerns about new government plans to reduce the time served by certain recalled offenders, warning that such decisions risk eroding confidence in justice and compromising victim safety.
She said: "Victims will understandably feel unnerved and bewildered by today’s announcement.
"It is the latest in a series of short-term, stop-gap measures prompted by chronic pressures on prison capacity. The cumulative effect has been to corrode confidence in the justice system and undermine victims’ sense of security.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Keir Starmer breaks silence on prisons crisis and declares one thing he didn't want to do
25 Comments
Robert Jenrick warns prison officers will be killed unless government gets a grip
24 Comments
Labour civil war as minister Shabana Mahmood breaks ranks over grooming gangs inquiry
60 Comments
Tory politician's wife will stay in jail over migrant rant after horror Southport attack
142 Comments
Lucy Connolly's incarceration is a moral stain on Britain's so-called justice system
100 Comments
'Trade union' primary school teacher sacked by head 'intent on revenge' awarded ￡370K
9 Comments
Shoplifting and burglary crime wave explosion feared if short prison sentences are axed
5 Comments
Martin Lewis pushes for Winter Fuel Payment to pensioners on these council tax bands
5 Comments
Prison guard's 'throat slashed' in high-security jail
45 Comments
Huge assisted dying battle looms as future of bill hangs in balance
4 Comments
Lucy Connolly case is a disgrace - thousands of others should be jailed instead
30 Comments
Chris Brown released on bail with ￡5million security fee after GBH charge
Comments
Liz Kendall defies Labour critics to press ahead with 'killer' cuts
56 Comments
Asylum seeker can't be deported from UK despite drug and weapons convictions
Comments
This 2-Minute ED Trick Has Urologists StunnedMens Health | Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Paedophiles and rapists face chemical castration in new crackdown
27 Comments
Killers and rapists will be let out early under Labour's new prisons plan
103 Comments
I Tried a 87￠ Generic ED Pill and Here’s What Happened!Friday Plans | Sponsored Sponsored
Get Offer
Undo
Migration update as Labour tsar says one group should be 'deported immediately'
82 Comments
Woman used wigs, disguises and false papers to complete UK citizenship tests for 13 people
50 Comments
Daughter Returns From School With A Crying Baby. Mom Calls 911 When She Realized Whose It Isuniversalinfonet.com | Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Top prison governor locked up after fling with UK drug boss who gave her ￡12k Mercedes
11 Comments
POLL: Should paedophiles and rapists be castrated?
41 Comments
Try This Salt Trick for ED That Urologists Swear ByMens Health | Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Keir Starmer breaks silence on prisons crisis and declares one thing he didn't want to do
25 Comments
Robert Jenrick warns prison officers will be killed unless government gets a grip
24 Comments
Sarah Palin, 61,Shows Her Huge Size In New PhotosApp Cute | Sponsored Sponsored
Read Now
Undo
Labour civil war as minister Shabana Mahmood breaks ranks over grooming gangs inquiry
60 Comments
Tory politician's wife will stay in jail over migrant rant after horror Southport attack
142 Comments
The Killer New BMW X6M Is Utter Perfection (Take A Look)BudgetSmart | Search Ads | Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Lucy Connolly's incarceration is a moral stain on Britain's so-called justice system
100 Comments
'Trade union' primary school teacher sacked by head 'intent on revenge' awarded ￡370K
9 Comments
Urologists Can’t Believe How Fast This Trick WorksLifeHacks for Men | Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Shoplifting and burglary crime wave explosion feared if short prison sentences are axed
5 Comments
Martin Lewis pushes for Winter Fuel Payment to pensioners on these council tax bands
5 Comments
Forget Strict Diets, Use This 7 Second Trick To Burn Belly Fat Faster!Health Benefits | Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Prison guard's 'throat slashed' in high-security jail
45 Comments
Huge assisted dying battle looms as future of bill hangs in balance
4 Comments
Vacant Houses For 10K CashVacant Houses Selling For 10k Cash | Search Ads | Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Lucy Connolly case is a disgrace - thousands of others should be jailed instead
30 Comments
Chris Brown released on bail with ￡5million security fee after GBH charge
Comments
Study Shows Bulging Discs Not The Cause of Most Sciatic Pain CasesSciatiEase | Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Liz Kendall defies Labour critics to press ahead with 'killer' cuts
56 Comments
Asylum seeker can't be deported from UK despite drug and weapons convictions
Comments
Paedophiles and rapists face chemical castration in new crackdown
27 Comments
Killers and rapists will be let out early under Labour's new prisons plan
103 Comments
Migration update as Labour tsar says one group should be 'deported immediately'
82 Comments
Woman used wigs, disguises and false papers to complete UK citizenship tests for 13 people
50 Comments
Top prison governor locked up after fling with UK drug boss who gave her ￡12k Mercedes
11 Comments
POLL: Should paedophiles and rapists be castrated?
41 Comments
Keir Starmer breaks silence on prisons crisis and declares one thing he didn't want to do
25 Comments
Robert Jenrick warns prison officers will be killed unless government gets a grip
24 Comments
Labour civil war as minister Shabana Mahmood breaks ranks over grooming gangs inquiry
60 Comments
Tory politician's wife will stay in jail over migrant rant after horror Southport attack
142 Comments
Lucy Connolly's incarceration is a moral stain on Britain's so-called justice system
100 Comments
'Trade union' primary school teacher sacked by head 'intent on revenge' awarded ￡370K
9 Comments
Shoplifting and burglary crime wave explosion feared if short prison sentences are axed
5 Comments
Experts Explain The Pink Salt Trick For Weight Loss – The Key For Women Over 50Blog - Natural Health
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Social Security Recipients Under $2,384/Mo Now Entitled To 12 "Kickbacks" This Month (Tap for List)SuperSavings
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Doctors: 'Stop Doing This If You Want to Lose Weight' – Find Out What Most Americans Don't KnowBlog - Natural Health
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Urologists Stunned: Trick for ED Works in Just MinutesLifeHacks for Men
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
"I find it difficult to understand why this specific group of offenders has been targeted for early release and I am concerned about the implications for victim safety. This cohort will either have committed sexual or violent offences or been assessed as posing an unacceptable risk of harm to the public.
"I will be seeking urgent clarity from the Lord Chancellor on how this policy will operate in practice – and what safeguards will be put in place to protect victims and uphold public trust.
"If the probation service, the Secretary of State and the Parole Board have all judged these individuals to pose a risk of harm to the public, then reducing time served on recall can only place victims and the wider public at an unnecessary risk of harm."