A TORY politician has raised concerns after it was revealed more than 200 criminals have been let out of prison early since June.
Weaver Vale prospective MP Graham Evans is worried that a total of 230 criminals have been let out under Labour’s controversial early release scheme from Thorn Cross, Styal, and Risley.
He says 11,000 criminals have already walked out of prison early across the country under the ‘end of custody licence’ system, with an estimated 25,500 criminals to be let out over a full year.
Mr Evans said: “By definition, being sent to prison means someone has committed a serious offence. Yet Labour is giving criminals a break by letting them loose on Cheshire’s streets.
“Serious crimes should be punished by a prison sentence, not least to protect the public. It is no wonder that violent crime has doubled under this Government when Gordon Brown is giving the culprits a ‘get out of jail’ card this Christmas. Sentences should fit the crime, not this week’s prison capacity.”
Conservatives call for:
l An immediate halt to the early release scheme, and the introduction of an emergency prison places programme using the savings from scrapping the Identity Card scheme.
l Doubling the sentencing powers of magistrates to 12 months and repealing any new restrictions on their ability to hand down suspended sentences.
l Honesty in sentencing so that convicted criminals serve the minimum sentence handed to them by the courts.
l Sufficient prison capacity to hold all those sentenced by the courts – and reforming prison regimes to break the cycle of re-offending.
