Curfews to ease overcrowding

The home detention curfew scheme is partly designed to ease pressure on overcrowded jails.

It also aims to help criminals return to society in a more controlled way in the hope of preventing re-offending.

Instead of inmates leaving jail with no follow-up supervision, they have a three-month period where their life is carefully regulated. They are house-bound after dark and if they breach the curfew they can be sent back to jail.

The decision to release nonviolent inmates up to 90 days early is taken by prison governors. However, many have been reluctant to use the power, fearing criticism if an inmate reoffends.

But as the jail population hits record levels, topping 72,000 last
year, they have been ordered to increase the use of curfews.