CONCERNS are mounting as around 1,750 inmates are set to be released early from overcrowded UK prisons, despite warnings that the scheme could lead to increased instability in communities. A former inmate from HMP Parc in Wales cautioned that “unstable” prisoners, who have not been rehabilitated, will soon “come back out on to the streets.”

The controversial decision has been made to alleviate overcrowding, with the government stating that failure to act would have led to a “total collapse of the criminal justice system.” However, Charlie Taylor, Chief Inspector of Prisons, has criticised the scheme, warning that prisons risk becoming a “revolving door” where offenders return to crime due to inadequate rehabilitation efforts.

Mr Taylor highlighted the strain this mass release will place on already stretched probation services, telling Sky News on Tuesday (Sept 10): “It’s a risky time with so many prisoners coming out at the same time.”

Normally, around 1,000 prisoners are released weekly, but with this scheme, an additional 1,700 offenders will be freed. Another wave of 2,000 releases is expected in October, heightening the risk to public safety.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood defended the decision, attributing the move to a prison system on the verge of collapse. She stated: “The alternative would have seen a total breakdown of law and order, with courts unable to conduct trials and police unable to make arrests.” She assured that early release does not apply to inmates convicted of sexual offences, serious violence, terrorism, or domestic abuse.

The government’s decision coincides with a damning report from the Chief Inspector of Prisons, which paints a grim picture of life behind bars. The report reveals a surge in drug use, self-harm, and violence in prisons, with 30 out of 32 inspected institutions rated poorly in providing purposeful activity. It also highlights the issue of overcrowding, with 60% of prisons over capacity, exacerbating already dire conditions.

At HMP Bedford, 30% of prisoners due for release had no secure accommodation, adding to the concerns that many offenders may find themselves homeless, compounding their likelihood of reoffending.

A former inmate of HMP Parc, Zack Griffiths, who has campaigned for prison reform, shared his concerns about drugs entering the prison, claiming that corrupt officers and drones were smuggling substances in. He said: “These people are not being rehabilitated. Inmates are going to come back out on to the streets… and I consider them to be a higher risk because they’re using drugs, they’re unstable.”

The problem of synthetic drugs in prisons, particularly spice and nitazines, has been linked to several deaths. Earlier this year, there were ten deaths in HMP Parc over just three months, and self-harm incidents in the prison have doubled in the past year. One case, involving 26-year-old Ryan Harding, who died of a suspected overdose, highlighted the growing danger of synthetic drugs inside prisons.

Ryan’s mother, Catherine Harding, criticised the prison, alleging that her son was more vulnerable due to inadequate medical treatment for his epilepsy and that prison officers were involved in bringing drugs into the facility.

HMP Parc, which is privately run by G4S, has faced significant scrutiny. While the company expressed condolences to families affected by inmate deaths, it acknowledged the challenges posed by a “small minority” of corrupt officers.

The early release programme, intended to relieve pressure on the prison system, has sparked widespread concern, with fears that many released inmates will breach their bail conditions or reoffend, leading them straight back to overcrowded prisons.