Hundreds of prisoners in Suffolk released early, data shows

Figures from the Ministry of Justice show that 322 were released from prisons in Suffolk over the last year, including HMP Highpoint and HMP Hollesley under an early release scheme started by the previous government. 

The scheme, known as End of Custody Supervised Licence (ECSL), was introduced by the Conservative government and continued for a few months after the Tories lost the general election in July this year. 

Suffolk Police and Crime commissioner Tim Passmore has said allowing offenders early "is completely unacceptable" (Image: Newsquest)Over 13,000 prisoners were released countrywide under the ECSL which ran from October 2023 to September 2024, before being replaced by Labour's separate early release program.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk Tim Passmore said: “The overcrowding of our prisons is a national crisis, and whilst I do not agree that sentences should be reduced to 40%, I really do not know what else could be done to help ease the capacity emergency in the short-term.

“We need a long-term solution which has been promised by successive governments of all political persuasions for 20 years; this current situation is completely unacceptable."

He continued: “As a member of the Local Criminal Justice Board, I have recently raised my real concerns regarding the potential safeguarding risks and impact on the relevant victims to make sure they do not come to any harm.

"The responsibility for preventing re-offending lies with the probation service and I am very concerned there is not enough capacity to cope with the additional workload."

“I would also like to know exactly what the government is doing to repatriate foreign nationals held in our prisons and how this might create more space in our prisons, potentially providing part of the solution.”

No prisoners who had been found guilty of sexual offences were released under the ECSL.