Prisoners to be freed early to beat overcrowding

Prisoners are to be released early to ease overcrowding in the country's jails, the Government announced today.

The Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer told the Lords prisoners will be released on licence, up to 18 days before their release date.

The move applies to those who have been sentenced to four years or less.

"This is a temporary measure. Release on licence is not the same as executive release. Releasing people on licence means their sentence continues," he said.

Lord Falconer said release would only be granted to those who meet the eligibility criteria.

This excludes offenders convicted of serious sexual or violent crimes, those who have broken the terms of temporary release in the past and foreign nationals who would be deported at the end of their sentence.

"It will only apply to those who are not released on Home Detention Curfew. Whilst on licence the offender will remain the subject of his sentence and will be liable to recall.

"The guidance comes into effect on June 29. I will keep the operation of the guidance under review," added Lord Falconer.

Lord Falconer said the measures announced today were designed to ensure the Government will be able to accommodate all those the courts send to prison.

"We will respect and give effect to the orders made by the courts," he added.

Lord Falconer said: "The prison estate is near to full currently. To ensure we can accommodate all those sent to prison by the courts, as a temporary measure, we will continue to rely on police cells and, where necessary, court cells.

"We are grateful to Chief Constables in England and Wales for making police cells available to us where necessary and to Her Majesty's Courts Service for over 100 court cells.

"The use of police cells may be necessary until the end of the year at the latest, pending the increase in capacity from some of the 8,000 coming on stream and then in the beginning of 2008 the additional prison places I have announced today."