Rules on sending criminals to open jails could be relaxed by Labour ministers despite fears it risks worsening unrest.
The Government is looking at allowing inmates to be held in open conditions for up to five years before their release rather than the current three, according to reports.
A separate move would also see a permanent change to official guidance which allows offenders to be placed in open jails even if they warn prison officers they may abscond.
The move was first introduced temporarily under the last government in 2023 but could become permanent, the Observer reported.
Figures obtained by the paper showed that 143 criminals absconded from the lowest security jails in England and Wales between January 2022 and March last year, and prison sources said more went missing over the Christmas period.
National chairman of the Prison Officers’ Association Mark Fairhurst predicted that if the measures go ahead ‘it’s inevitable violence will rise, drug abuse will rise, absconds will rise’.
He said: ‘The open estate is supposed to be trusted conditions. Putting people with five years left into that world is going to destabilise it even further.
‘The majority of people accessing the open estate now would never have previously been transferred, but they’ve relaxed the criteria so much just to fill the space.’
Figures obtained by the paper showed that 143 criminals absconded from the lowest security jails in England and Wales between January 2022 and March 2024 (file photo)
Prisoners being released from HMP Pentonville in London last September. The Government is reportedly looking at allowing inmates to be held in open conditions for up to five years before their release rather than the current three
He added: ‘We’ve got people refusing to work, people who are high on spice, people who are just walking out – we had absconds over Christmas.
‘You can just walk out, but you can also walk back in with loads of drugs and alcohol on you because there’s no searches.’
Open jails have lower security measures and allow inmates to leave the premises during the day to attend work and education.
Last month former Conservative Cabinet minister David Gauke, who is leading a review of sentencing policy for Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, said he wanted to see wider use of open jails.
Labour has already released at least 3,100 criminals early under a scheme which came into force in September, and is extending a separate scheme allowing more inmates to be freed on electronic tag.
Ms Mahmood said the schemes were necessary to avoid total collapse in the justice system as the prison population hit a record high of 89,000.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said early release schemes were necessary to avoid a collapse in the justice system amid a record prison population
National chairman of the Prison Officers’ Association Mark Fairhurst predicted the plan would see an increase in violence, drug abuse and absconds
Last week it had fallen to 85,618, with about 3,000 spare places available.
An MoJ spokesman said: ‘Only less serious offenders who meet strict criteria are eligible for moves to open conditions.
‘Those who abscond face serious consequences, including being returned to closed conditions and serving an additional two years.
‘The new government inherited a prison system on the point of collapse.
‘We have taken the necessary action to stop our prisons from overflowing and to protect the public.’
