CRIMINALS OUT FOR CHRISTMAS AFTER EARLY RELEASE

Tory Robert Jenrick slams scheme that freed 8,000 convicts to ‘roam our streets'

- MICHAEL KNOWLES

MORE than 8,000 criminals were freed to enjoy Christmas at home thanks to Labour's early release scheme, figures show.

Some 8,269 inmates who had been sentenced to at least two years in jail were let loose between January and June.

This included 139 hardened criminals locked up for more than 14 years.

Custody

Another 329 had been jailed for between 10 and 14 years and 1,761 were handed more than five.

Tories claim that they "would still have been in custody over Christmas 2025 had they served their full sentence".

Robert Shadow Justice Secretary said instead they were "roaming our streets".

He warned: "Thanks to Jenrick, the Labour, thousands of criminals will be enjoying themselves this Christmas.

More than 8,000 prisoners who would have been serving their prison sentences this Christmas will be roaming our streets.”

Turning his fire on Justice Secretary David Lammy, Mr Jenrick continued: “Calamity Lammy and Labour are overseeing record levels of shoplifting and robberies targeting businesses. Basic items like butter and chocolate are now being security tagged.