Ford Prison frees 11 early to ease overcrowding

A total of 11 inmates will be released from Ford tomorrow, up to 18 days before the end of their sentence, under proposals by Lord Falconer, the Secretary of State for Justice.

The prison population of England and Wales hit a new high last week and stands at 81,106.

Arundel and South Downs MP Nick Herbert said: "Frankly I think it's a disgrace that prisoners will be released early simply because ministers have failed to plan for enough places. Who has thought about the victims of the crimes?

"I have no truck with the argument that it's only 18 days early and the prisoners were going to be released anyway. Offenders should serve their sentences in full '“ period."

Ford's deputy governor Glyn Hughes told the Gazette: "Any prisoners released early will have undergone risk assessments and be checked to make sure that they meet the relevant criteria and that process is going on as we speak."

This is being reviewed each week.

In Parliament last week Mr Herbert asked Prisons Minister, David Hanson if prisoners were being transferred from closed prisons to open prisons such as Ford in a bid to ease overcrowding.

The minister confirmed this was the case under emergency measures announced last Wednesday to "maximize the use of the whole prison estate", including transferring of prisoners sentenced to less than 12 months in custody to open prisons for the final 56 days of their sentence.

Mr Herbert said: "Open prisons should not be used as an emergency overspill for closed prisons. There is a risk unsuitable short-term offenders will be transferred to Ford."