‘Sleepless nights’ facing domestic abuse survivors ahead of Labour’s mass prisoner release next week – as campaigners say victims are ‘paying the price’ for UK’s overcrowded jails

Domestic abuse survivors are facing ‘sleepless nights’ ahead of Labour’s mass prisoner release next week, a government advisor has warned and said victims are ‘paying the price’ for the UK’s overcrowded jails.

The government’s early-release scheme will see prisoners automatically freed after serving between 40 to 45 per cent of their prison time as ministers attempt to tackle the overcrowding crisis in UK prisons. 

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously told the BBC no high-risk prisoners will be released, but confessed the risk could not be entirely quashed. 

He added on Sunday: ‘We are doing everything we can to make sure that high-risk and domestic abusers, domestic violence cases are not released.’

But Nicole Jacobs, the domestic abuse commissioner, warned that about a third of domestic abuse survivors were likely unaware that their perpetrators are due to be released on Tuesday.

She told the Times that victims were ‘paying the price’ for Britain’s overcrowded prisons, warning that survivors are at risk of their attackers getting in contact with them, with them likely knowing their workplace and home address.

Domestic abusers are set to be released from behind bars under Labour’s new early release scheme (Pictured: Keir Starmer)

But Nicole Jacobs (pictured), the domestic abuse commissioner, warned that about a third of domestic abuse survivors were likely unaware or unsupported that their perpetrators are due to be released on Tuesday

Newly appointed Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood (pictured) has declared several offences would also be exempt from the new scheme in a bid to keep the public safe from the most dangerous criminals 

‘We must ensure that victims aren’t lost in the shuffle of the changes that are being made in the prison release schemes and the perception of justice and fairness.

‘Victims of domestic abuse are very focused on those release dates, it causes them sleepless nights, they will change so much of their daily activities knowing that their perpetrator is being released, the uncertainty of not knowing if that person will comply with licensing conditions and of release.

‘This is incredibly stressful in the normal situation so for those dates to change unexpectedly or without them knowing that is a huge consequence for them to pay.’

A senior probation officer said that even though the scheme was announced eight weeks ago, most officers were only given four weeks or less to prepare for offenders who the Prisons Service determined eligible for release.

It comes as probation staff issued a warning over the 2,000 inmates set for early release, with an insider telling the Sun: ‘This is a risky move . . . probation staff are being asked to fly blind.’ 

Newly appointed Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has declared several offences would also be exempt from the new scheme in a bid to keep the public safe from the most dangerous criminals.

Mahmood also aimed to curb the amount of domestic abusers set free from prison, by ensuring those serving time for coercive control, stalking, harassment or breach of a restraining or non-molestation order as well as non-fatal throttling would be exempt.

But prisoners convicted of broader offences like assault or criminal damage, which are not specific to domestic violence, are not excluded – therefore they can qualify for the government’s scheme.

A senior government source told the Times that a high proportion of those released on Tuesday would be domestic abusers after the Ministry of Justice said it couldn’t say how many of those due for release were domestic abusers as they were difficult to distinguish from other violent convicts.

Among the prisoners set to walk free are a man who told his partner he was ‘enjoying’ attacking her and another who strangled his partner and broke her jaw, The Times reports.

Among the 1,700 set to walk free next Tuesday is Connor Shaw who was sentenced 32 months behinds bars after breaking his partner’s jaw, strangling her, and threatening to throw acid in her face

Shane Riley, who said he ‘enjoyed’ attacking his partner after she broke off their relationship will also be free after serving barely nine months of his sentence

Jordan Green, who was put behind bars after he pleaded guilty to robbery and dangerous driving in March, will also be released under the new scheme

The governments ‘SDS40’ scheme, could see prisoners automatically freed after serving between 40 to 45 per cent of their prison time, as ministers attempt to tackle the overcrowding crisis in UK prisons  (Pictured:  HMP Wandsworth)

Under Sir Keir’s new scheme, Connor Shaw will only serve 13 months of his prison sentence after subjecting his partner to years of mental and physical abuse.

He was originally sentenced 32 months behind bars after breaking her jaw, strangling her, and threatening to throw acid in her face.

Another abuser who will be granted freedom after serving barely half of his prison sentence is Shane Riley. 

The then 44-year-old said he was ‘enjoying’ assaulting his partner as he punched, kicked ,and headbutted the victim in her Soham home when she broke off their relationship on June 8, 2020. 

He was sentenced to 23 months for causing actual bodily harm, common assault, making threats to kill, and criminal damage. He will serve less than nine months.

Another offender who will also taste freedom thanks to Labour’s new scheme will be Jordan Green, who was put behind bars after he pleaded guilty to robbery and dangerous driving in March. 

He was jailed for 27 months after an incident saw him approach a woman’s window in Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees and screech: ‘Get out of the f***ing car’ 

He proceeded to hurl her mobile phone out of his window as he sped off, which allowed her take an image the criminal.

Green, who was previously handed a prison sentence after he attacked his own mother. will only spend four months in jail.

Inmates now behind bars will be set free after serving only 40 per cent of their sentence – lowered from the previous 50 per cent – in a fresh bid to tackle prison overcrowding. 

The emergency plan, also known as standard determinate sentence 40 SDS40, will mark the first time the automatic release point for prisoners fell below half sentence served.  

Crimes exempt from the new early release scheme include prisoners with sentences for sexual and violent offences of over four years (stock image)

It comes as official figures showed  there were 88,521 people behind bars on Friday, 171 more than the previous record set at the end of last week.

The prison population has now risen by 1,025 people over the past four weeks and now stands at its highest level since weekly population data was first published in 2011.

Crimes exempt from the new early release scheme include prisoners sentences for sexual and violent offences of over four years.

The Justice Secretary was previously advised that the emergency early release plan could prevent prisons running out of space within weeks.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) was been told by officials that the move would give them an extra 18 months to allow more prison places to be freed up. It would also allow for a wider review of sentencing to take place.