Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

End of Custody Supervised Licence

Tuesday 26 March 2024 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • ECSL responds to capacity challenges with safeguards not present in past schemes
  • 2007-10 scheme lacked supervision for released prisoners convicted of terror offences
  • 18,000 foreign national offenders have been deported in the past four years

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chris Evans Labour (Co-op) Caerphilly
Justice & Courts
Context

The question arises from concerns about prison overcrowding and the impact of early prisoner release schemes.

Question

How many prisoners have been released early under the end of custody supervised licence scheme since October 2023. The Justice Committee Chair highlighted prisons are at 'bursting point' with potential criminal justice system halting without ECSL extension, while the Domestic Abuse Commissioner criticised plans as dangerous for victims.

Answer from Edward Argar

ECSL responds to capacity challenges with safeguards not present in past schemes; 2007-10 scheme lacked supervision for released prisoners convicted of terror offences. Safeguards ensure protection of victims and society.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific data on number of prisoners released early

How: Annualised Publication Approach, Previous Similar Statistics

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Q2 Chris Evans Labour (Co-op) Caerphilly
Justice & Courts
Context

The question relates to managing prison capacity and protecting victims while dealing with overcrowded prisons.

Question

Prisons are at 'bursting point', threatening criminal justice system halt without ECSL extension. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner criticised plans as dangerous for domestic abuse victims. Is the scheme effective in managing prison population safely? If so, when will data on released prisoners be published?

Answer from Edward Argar

ECSL responds to capacity challenges with safeguards not present in past schemes; 2007-10 scheme lacked supervision for released prisoners convicted of terror offences. Safeguards ensure protection of victims and society.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific data on number of prisoners released early

How: Annualised Publication Approach, Previous Similar Statistics

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Q3 Andrea Jenkyns Con
Immigration Justice & Courts
Context

The question focuses on managing prison overcrowding by deporting foreign criminals.

Question

Prisons are full, causing early release of inmates. At what point will deportation of foreign national offenders be prioritised to free up space for zero-tolerance policing?

Answer from Edward Argar

18,000 foreign national offenders have been deported in the past four years and the target is being driven higher to address prison capacity challenges.

Answered
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Q4 Kevin Brennan Lab
Justice & Courts Standards & Ethics
Context

The question stems from public demand for transparency on the number of prisoners released under ECSL.

Question

It is telling that the Minister refuses to disclose how many prisoners are being released early. Does he have any intention, before a general election, of releasing truth about prisoners let out early?

Answer from Edward Argar

We consider annualised publication of these statistics as most appropriate, in line with similar publications such as those on deaths of offenders.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific data release timing

How: Annualised Publication Approach, Previous Similar Statistics

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