Incorrect early release of 37 prisoners 'deeply regrettable', Prime Minister says

It is “deeply regrettable” that prisoners who were jailed under an old harassment law were wrongly released early, the Prime Minister has said.

Some 37 offenders were released in error as part of the Government’s early release scheme, as ministers battled to stop prisons becoming full.

It is understood some offenders, sentenced using previous harassment law, were not flagged as being exempt from the temporary early release scheme, which Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood introduced to “avert disaster” amid a capacity crisis.

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Stalkers and domestic abusers were among those who were accidentally released.

Speaking to journalists during a visit to the United Nations in New York, Sir Keir Starmer said he was concerned that they had been wrongly released.

He said: “It’s deeply regrettable that they were released.

“As I understand it, to do with the classification under old legislation and I think all bar one are back in custody.

“But of course, I’m concerned, and we’ll ensure that all victims have the support that they need.”

Ms Mahmood cut temporarily the proportion of sentences which inmates must serve behind bars from 50% to 40% during the summer.

The Cabinet minister exempted some offenders from the scheme if their crimes were linked with stalking, controlling or coercive behaviours in an intimate or family relationship, non-fatal strangulation and suffocation, and breach of restraining order.

However, the technical glitch affected breach of a restraining order cases prosecuted using the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, after its replacement – the Sentencing Act – was passed in 2020.

Offenders prosecuted using the older legislation were not