Don't Vote Labour Again (Part 28)

The early-release convict who killed a man

On September 15 2024, the government let out 1,750 prisoners early because of the so-called prisons crisis. Convicts became eligible for release after serving only 40% of their sentence, and some were literally popping champagne corks outside. Starmer claimed he had no choice because of overcrowding, but assured us that no seriously violent or sexual criminals - or domestic abusers - would be included.

The scheme has continued for seven months. In October, 1,200 were let go in England and Wales. On the assumption that there have been around a thousand a month, the number of released now must now total 7,000 to 8,000.

Writing about this in September, I observed that there was an ideological side to the decision. The prison minister Lord Timpson has made statements against mass incarceration, believing in notions of rehabilitation instead. The liberal left in general has a record of such approaches.

I on the other hand was in favour of building new prisons, redeveloping existing ones, and using temporary facilities to hold convicts. Expensive, yes - but in the circumstances a priority above all others, certainly Ukraine and Net Zero. Labour have now announced some prison building targets, but still the criminals come.

I warned in the video it was almost certain there would be reoffending and somebody would get hurt. Sadly this happened, and a member of the public was killed by a released prisoner - the very same day he was let out.

On September 19, 26 year old Liam Matthews walked free from HMP Holme House in Stockon-on-Tees. He had been convicted of manslaughter in June 2023, which resulted from a street fight. His partners in crime had had been found guilty of murder. Not seriously violent, eh? In actual fact, so long as their sentences were under 4 years, violent prisoners were considered for release.

Matthews had received a sentence of 22 months. Firstly - is that it? For killing someone?! Lucy Connelly received 30 months for posting unwisely on X. Matthews was released after 14 months. Now, it is common for prisoners to be let out on licence halfway through their sentence, depending on their behaviour inside. He had, we should point out, served more than that. However, the decision to release him was still part of Starmer's new scheme (allowing releases after 40% served). Quite probably the government pressure on prison authorities to bring their populations down influenced the decision; and they may not have been as stringent as they normally were. Well, the prison population came down by one, alright. But the population of the local area also came down by one.

Upon release, Matthews was given a standard £96 grant from the prison. He visited his probation officer and the job centre. He then went to the pub before wanting something harder, and used his grant to buy crack cocaine. High on the drug, he later became involved in some kind of gang attack on 26 year old Lewis Bell. The dispute was apparently over drugs - what else? Matthews stamped on the victim and brandished a chisel as his two associates stabbed Bell to death.

For the second time in his life, Matthews was convicted for manslaughter, along with another of the gang. The third attacker was found guilty of murder. They are yet to be sentenced and were remanded in custody. So back to prison the scumbag went. Under Keir Starmer though, how long is he likely to remain there?

Other freed criminals have reoffended. In February Amari Ward was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman in Sittingbourne. He groped a woman's thigh outside the railway station. This again, was on the very day of his release. Ward had been in prison for breaking a restraining order, and had not been convicted of a sexual offence before. His victim, in her statement to court, said she felt like a "scapegoat" for the early release scheme. Sadly, there are sure to be other such incidents of reoffending, which will come to light throughout the next few years. Indeed the inspector of prisons in England and Wales said in September it was "inevitable" that without the correct support and accommodation, released prisoners would reoffend or breach their license conditions.

Ward was one of 37 freed prisoners that had been convicted of breaking restraining orders, put in place because they were harassing individuals - presumably ex-partners. Under the 1997 Harassment Act, such an offence was not considered domestic abuse. This changed in 2020 as part of the 'Sentencing Act'. Because the prisoners had been convicted under the previous legislation, their status as domestic abusers was missed, and they were wrongly released. Most of the 37 have reportedly been returned to prison. As of September 2024 five of them remained at large with the authorities searching for them. It is yet another black mark against the government's rash and ill advised policy.

As mentioned, Labour have since pledged to create prison places. They say they will aim for 14,600 extra spaces by 2031, which will cost £10 billion (only £2.3 billion has been pledged so far). This all seems optimistic to say the least. The Policy Exchange think tank estimated 50,000 would be required in the next ten years to properly protect the public; including 10,900 to deal with new offenders in the next five years. A so-called 'super-prison', begun in 2021 under the Johnson government, opened in March. Millsike Prison in York can hold 1,468 convicts and has already taken in 200. It cost £400 million. You'll be very glad to hear it is powered by solar panels and heat pumps, and painted in soft pastel colours to encourage good behaviour.

Just to number crunch a little, to make 14,000 spaces we will need about nine Millsike-sized prisons. If they all cost the same as Millsike, the price will come to £3.6 billion. It if is to be done by the start of 2031, we will have to build 2 prisons a year and spend £800 million a year. Labour have made a start by approving the construction of HMP Garth in Lancashire, which will hold 1,700 convicts.

The Tories of course failed to create the spaces they pledged. May promised 10,000 in 2016 and Johnson another 10,000 in 2019. Only 6,000 were provided in the end. Quite possibly Labour will fall into the same trap, given that the same sclerotic and expensive processes apply.

With any luck this government will perform better and the prison spaces programme will see the dangerous release policy be wound down. Eventually. After billions of pounds have been spent and perhaps hundreds of people have been hurt, abused or killed. On the other hand the justice minister, Shabana Mahmood, has expressed an interest in following the liberal Texas model whereby serious criminals are released following good conduct, training and education. This follows a review written by the former Lib Dem... I'm sorry, Conservative... minister, David Gauke. In this case, even more potential reoffenders will be walking among us. These numbers are being added to everyday on the beaches of Dover. Clown World continues.