The UK government has faced criticism after it emerged that a recently released prisoner, Amari Ward, was charged with sexually assaulting a woman on the day of his release. Ward was released on Tuesday as part of an early release policy intended to ease prison overcrowding. He was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault in Sittingbourne, Kent, and charged with the offence at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. The Ministry of Justice argued that the policy was necessary due to the poor state and overcrowding of UK prisons.
Ward was recalled to prison on Thursday after being denied bail. He is due to appear before Maidstone Crown Court in September. The latest incarnation of the early release policy was implemented after the general election in July. However, the previous Conservative government had already begun releasing some inmates early due to overcrowding in the system. The scheme involves the early release of around 1,750 prisoners who have served 40% of their sentence rather than 50%.
Those eligible for the scheme include some individuals convicted of violent offences and serving sentences of less than four years. Individuals convicted of domestic abuse as well as “connected crimes” such as stalking and controlling or coercive behaviours are not included, nor are terrorists or sex offenders. Concerns have previously been raised about the policy. In August, Martin Jones, the chief inspector of probation, argued that “a certainty that some will reoffend” existed.
The UK prison population reached over 88,500 this month, leading to warnings that a potential risk of reoffending exists amongst those released. The probation union Napo has argued that risks have not been properly assessed, leading to the “moving of the problem from one place to another”. Victims’ Commissioner Baroness Newlove suggested that individuals had not been informed of the early release of those who had committed crimes against them
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