PUBLIC 'AT RISK' OVER PRISON RELEASE PLAN

Ministers' 'failure to provide safeguards' blasted by angry probation officers

- Jonathan Walker

LABOUR was accused last night of rushing ahead with the early release of prisoners before measures to protect the public are put in place.

Furious probation officers claimed they have been given barely four weeks to prepare for the first batch of convicts to be freed next month.

And they warned the lack of adequate preparation will put the public at risk and could lead to “horrific” consequences.

Last night, a former Home Office minister branded the scheme “deeply irresponsible” and “dangerous”.

Up to 5,500 inmates – including violent offenders – will be released early to ease prison overcrowding.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood told probation chiefs they would get eight weeks to prepare offender management plans to ensure they are safely returned to the outside world with no threat to the public.

But with the first batch to walk free in 15 days’ time, they claim the information came four weeks too late and while many officials were away on holiday.

Tania Bassett, an official with National Association of Probation Officers, said: “There is a risk to the public and the Ministry of Justice knows that.”

Ms Mahmood has ruled the prisoners will be released in two waves, on September 10 and October 22.