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Written question asked by Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 3 January 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 January 2001. It was answered by Lord Boateng (Labour) on Thursday, 18 January 2001 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many notifiable offences were committed in Avon and Somerset within the last two years by people released from prison under early release schemes; and if he will make a statement. - No figure given. Includes fact that the Prison Service has made further inquiries of the electronic monitoring contractors for the South West of England and a copy will be placed in Library.
Answer

Paddy Ashdown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many notifiable offences were committed in Avon and Somerset within the last two years by people released from prison under early release schemes; and if he will make a statement. [144643] Mr. Boateng: There are two statutory early release schemes: Parole: prisoners serving a sentence of four years or more are entitled to be considered for discretionary conditional release on parole licence at the halfway point of their sentence. Those who are refused parole are released automatically at the two thirds point of their sentence on non-parole licence. Information about prisoners who are released on parole licence and who commit a further offence during the currency of that licence is not currently held centrally. Home Detention Curfew: most prisoners serving a sentence of less than four years and more than three months are eligible to be considered for the home detention curfew scheme, which commences up to 60 days before the halfway point of the sentence. Information about prisoners who are subject to the scheme, who have been released to an address in either Avon or Somerset and who have committed an offence during the currency of the scheme is not immediately available. The Prison Service has made further inquiries of the electronic monitoring contractors for the South West of England and I will write to the right hon. Member with this information as soon as it is available. A copy will be placed in the Library. Early release schemes are designed to ensure a better transition between custody and the community. Prisoners are only placed on the schemes after a careful risk assessment, in which the overriding concern is the safety of the public.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
361 c376W; 144643
Session
2000-01
Subjects
Crime Avon Electronic tagging Parole Prisoners Prisoners' release Reoffenders Somerset
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk