Domestic abuse victims facing 'sleepless nights' as prisoners set for early release

In an attempt to tackle overcrowding in prisons, the Government's SDS40 programme could see inmates who have served between 40 to 45 per cent of their prison time released early.

Currently, inmates have to serve 50 per cent of their sentences before they can be released.

Nicole Jacobs, the domestic abuse commissioner, has warned that some victims may not be aware that their attackers could soon be released. This is due to them not being eligible for victim notifications schemes, and this could “put [them] in danger”.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, she said: “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.”

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The number of prisoners to be released tomorrow is almost double the number that are normally freed from jail in a whole week.

The scheme was announced back in July by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood in a bid to reduce overcrowding. It was first declared eight weeks ago, in order to give the Probation Service enough time to prepare.

Mahmood said they are seeking to limit the number of domestic abusers being released under the scheme by excluding prisoners serving sentences for crimes such as non-fatal strangulation, coercive control, stalking, harassment or breach of a restraining or non-molestation order.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also insisted on Saturday there were “safeguards in place” to prevent high-risk prisoners, including those convicted of domestic violence-related offences, being released.

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

However, there is nothing in place to stop abusers being released who were convicted of offences not related to domestic violence.

A senior government source told The Times: “A high proportion will be domestic abusers.”

The prison population has now reached a new record high of 88,521 people.

A third of all offenders supervised by the Probation Service are current or previous perpetrators of domestic abuse.