London, Thanasis Gavos

Start today at Britain the early release of prisoners, a measure decided by the new government of Keir Starmer due to overcrowding in the country’s prisons.

In the first phase, about 1,750 prisoners will be released, many of them have been convicted of domestic violence.

The measure stipulates that the imprisoned will now be released after serving 40% of their sentence and not the 50% that applied until now.

The government claims that only in this way mthe lack of cells in the country’s prisons can be addressed. For example, at the end of August there were only 83 empty male cells in British penitentiaries. In total, the population of prisoners approached 89,000.

Justice Minister Shabana Mahmud said the government “inherited a prison system on the brink of collapse” and that this change is one which Labor did not want, but had no choice.

However, Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor warned that it is “risky” for local communitiesfor some victims and for the general welfare so many prisoners to go out at the same time.

Excluded from the measure are those who have been imprisoned for sex offences, crimes of serious violence and terrorism offences.

It is expected to follow in October the early release of another 2,000 prisoners.