Starmer defends prison policy that will free some domestic abusers

Keir Starmer has defended plans that will result in the speedy re-release of some domestic abusers on prison recall to ease jail overcrowding as ministers faced anger over concerns for public safety.

- Rajeev Syal

Under emergency measures announced by the justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, some criminals serving between one- and four-year jail terms who are released but breach their licence conditions will be returned to custody for only a fixed 28 days rather than their full sentence.

Offenders are recalled to prison if they commit another offence or breach licence conditions, such as by missing probation appointments, when they are released early but remain on licence.

A government source has admitted that "many but not all domestic abusers" will be released under the scheme.

Starmer told reporters on a visit to Albania yesterday: "I do not want to be in the position where we have this. I have no choice, literally no choice, because of the position the last government put us in.

"But at the same time we've put in place the biggest prison building programme since Victorian times."