Thousands of prisoners to be released early to avoid ‘total breakdown of law and order’

Justice secretary says 1,000 probation officers will also be recruited ‘to avert disaster’ in England and Wales

Keir Starmer’s government will release thousands of prisoners after they have served 40% of their sentences and recruit 1,000 probation officers to solve an overcrowding crisis that threatens “a total breakdown of law and order”, the justice secretary has announced.

The lord chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, described the policy as “the only way to avert disaster”, saying if prisons were to run out of places, courts would be forced to delay jailing offenders and police unable to arrest dangerous criminals – a crisis that would leave the public at risk.

Continue reading… The Guardian Read More Justice secretary says 1,000 probation officers will also be recruited ‘to avert disaster’ in England and WalesUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer’s government will release thousands of prisoners after they have served 40% of their sentences and recruit 1,000 probation officers to solve an overcrowding crisis that threatens “a total breakdown of law and order”, the justice secretary has announced.The lord chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, described the policy as “the only way to avert disaster”, saying if prisons were to run out of places, courts would be forced to delay jailing offenders and police unable to arrest dangerous criminals – a crisis that would leave the public at risk. Continue reading…