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Early release prisoners are 'handed TENTS' after the Probation Service runs out of housing under Burnham's scheme

Early release prisoners are 'handed TENTS' after the Probation Service runs out of housing under Burnham's scheme

A probation whistleblower says one office gave out about 100 tents in the past year, and supplies have now run dry. 'I've got a tent, go and live in a park for a bit,' the officer told one freed inmate. Releases into rough sleeping have more than doubled since 2022-23, from 6,040 to 14,360. Almost one in six prisoners, 15.9 per cent, now leave custody homeless.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged to offer everyone 'a route off the streets this Christmas'.

Around 1,350 prisoners were freed this month, some after serving a third of their sentence.

Nacro data shows two-thirds of prisoners who leave jail homeless reoffend within a year.

MoreLBCEarly release prisoners given tents after Probation Service housing shortageGB NewsTents handed to early release prisoners despite Andy Burnham’s vow to end rough sleepingThe TelegraphEarly release prisoners given tents to sleep roughThe SunEarly release prisoners ‘handed tents’ as probation service ‘runs out of housing & puts freed lags onto streets’
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