Tories warn reoffending is 'off the charts' as 650 more prisoners cheer their way out of jail
Prisons remain at 97.8% capacity despite the releases, with around 650 offenders now walking free after serving just a third of sentences of up to two and a half years.
Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy told the Commons that a majority of the 650 criminals freed on Tuesday in Labour's second early release wave had not been tagged, despite ministers pledging the "toughest tagging regime in history." The Met has recorded 100 electronic-tag breaches in London every single day since the first tranche, with two or three early-release prisoners re-arrested every week.
Serial shoplifter Michael Bogle, 38, from Brent, was back stealing from supermarkets within 24 hours of leaving HMP Wandsworth — and later admitted four offences.
Outside HMP Durham, one freed inmate shouted 'F****** belta' and another told reporters his message to the Prime Minister was: 'Scrap the recalls.'
Ministers refused to release tagging and reoffending data until January, saying the scheme — expected to free up to 50,000 prisoners a year — needed time to bed in.
