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We’ll be locked up again in no time, admit prisoners freed by Starmer’s controversial early release scheme
Convicts are also being put up in hotels rather than bail hostels under the radical plans
PRISONERS have admitted that most lags will be locked up again in no time after being freed by Starmer's controversial scheme.
Around 1,700 convicts were released early after Keir Starmer's plans to ease pressure on the justice system came into force.
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The policy will see prisoners released after completing 40 per cent of their sentence – rather than the standard 50 per cent – in a bid to free up 5,500 beds.
But many prisoners, perhaps surprisingly, don't believe that the plans are a good idea.
As they strolled out of prison, some lags brazenly admitted to The Sun that they would go on to re-offend.
Shane Devlin, 36, has just been released after spending a year inside for an ABH conviction.
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He was released a month early but doesn’t think there’s much point in the early release scheme.
He told The Sun: “All they’re going to do is put the people from the riots in.
“They’re just going to empty it out and fill it up with new people.
“They’ve got the backlog from Covid, plus most people re-offend so they’ll be straight back in."
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Meanwhile, ex-convict Stephen Quinn thinks that those who approved the plans to release lags "must be out of their minds".
The lag, who was released from HMP Brixton on Tuesday, said: "If you release people in waves you get crime in waves.
"It's already happened once and you've got those people who are already back in jail.
"Whoever thought of this idea, they must be totally out of their mind."
He claims it is only a matter of time before he’s behind bars again.
He added: “Anyone on GPS tag is guaranteed to be recalled within three months.
“If it isn’t for probation recalls, it’s for further offences.
“My mates all said they’re guaranteed to be back within 28 days.”
He admitted he is set to head straight back into a life of crime now he is on the outside.
He said: “Yes, I’ll return to a life of crime, because I’ve not been taught nothing. I’ve just been in the care system all my life.”
Peter, in his 50s, has just walked out having served less than 40 per cent of his 32 month sentence for commercial burglary.
Remarkably, he says he does not feel rehabilitated.
He says: “There’s education and courses in there, but once you leave the gates that’s it, there’s no more help.
“It’s down to me to stay on the straight and narrow.”
One lag was even seen jumping into a £200,000 Lamborghini just seconds after being freed early under Labour's controversial scheme.
The prisoner at HMP Pentonville was met by a group of friends as he left jail on Tuesdaymorning - before hopping into the super car and driving off.
Other ex-convicts were seen jumping into fancy motors with a Bentley also spotted driving off.
Lags being released early from jail are reportedly being handed McDonald's vouchers and cash by prisons under a controversial new scheme.
It is now understood some freed inmates are being handed supermarket vouchers, as well as help with onward transport.
Convicts are also being put up in hotels rather than bail hostels under the radical plans.
But not all victims of crime were made aware of their offenders' early release date, the victims' commissioner for England and Wales said, warning that some victims may not have had the opportunity to seek "protective measures".
The scheme comes despite concerns over re-offending with offenders being let out having served less than half of their sentences in a bid to free up space behind bars.
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Being released on licence means that offenders must adhere to restrictions for the rest of their sentence, including curfews and tagging, and will be supervised by probation officers.
The government said offenders jailed for violent offences with sentences of at least four years, sex offenders and domestic abusers were not eligible for early release.
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