Government defends early release after sexual assault charges against released prisoner

The government defended the early release of prisoners after it was revealed that a former prisoner had sexually assaulted a woman on the day of his release.

Amari Ward, 31, was released on the first day on Tuesday under the measure, which is intended to reduce prison overcrowding.

The man appeared at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Thursday charged with sexual assault and is due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court next month.

The Justice Department said the early release program was necessary because it had “inherited prisons that were in crisis and on the verge of collapse” and punished repeat offenders.

Ward is accused of “intentionally touching” a woman without her consent in Sittingbourne, Kent, on Tuesday, according to court documents seen by the BBC.

He was arrested at an address in south London.

Ward was charged with sexual assault, denied bail and returned to jail on Thursday.

A Justice Department spokesman said: “The government has inherited prisons that are in crisis and on the verge of collapse.”

“If that had happened, the courts would not have been able to hold trials and the police would not have been able to make arrests.

“We had no choice but to introduce emergency measures, release some prisoners a few weeks or months early, exclude a number of crimes and impose strict licensing conditions.”

“While we cannot comment on the details of individual cases, anyone who violates the license conditions or commits other crimes will be punished.”

Around 1,750 inmates were released from prisons across England and Wales early Tuesday morning.

The latest version of the plan was presented by the government after the general election in July, but officials had already started drawing it up when the Conservatives were in power.

In May, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was criticised for the early release of dangerous criminals under the programme.

During PMQs, Sir Keir Starmer demanded a guarantee that no high-risk criminal would be released early.

The former prime minister stressed that no one considered a threat to public safety would be considered.

Early release will temporarily reduce the proportion of prison sentences that some prisoners must serve behind bars from 50 to 40 percent.

Individuals serving sentences of less than four years for violent crimes, including manslaughter, under this program include criminals.

Despite government efforts to prevent domestic violence offenders from being released early from prison, the restrictions do not apply to all criminals with a history of such violence, as only certain crimes, such as stalking, are exempt from the rule.

Attackers convicted of other crimes, such as threatening to kill or causing actual bodily harm, may still be eligible for early release.

Even rioters involved in this summer's unrest are not specifically barred from early release. They will only remain behind bars longer if they serve more than four years for a violent crime.

Terrorists and sex offenders are exempt from this and will not be released early.

This month, prison population reached a new record high of over 88,500 people.

Officials had previously stated that some of those released were at risk of reoffending.

Earlier this month, Martin Jones, Britain's chief probation inspector, said: “I also think there are certainly some who will reoffend.”

He added that the risk of serious crimes was low but could not be ruled out.