Concern as prisoner released early from jail

CONVICTS CONFUSED’ OVER PLANS AMID FEARS OF HOMELESSNESS REOFFENDING

- PAUL BRITTON

PRISONERS freed from Strangeways jail under the government's controversial early release scheme yesterday said confusion surrounded where they were supposed to live.

Downing Street said all offenders freed early to cut overcrowding in jails have a release plan, but it is understood the Ministry of Justice (Mo]) is providing accommodation for 12 weeks only, leading to fears of eventual homelessness and reoffending as a result.

The M.E.N spoke to a number of former inmates as they left HMP Manchester, with one saying: "Everyone is like 'what happens, what's going on next?" Another - who said he was "just booted out" expected to be "dumped in a hostel" Others walking free after serving less than half of jail sentences were given vouchers for rail tickets.

Sources within the probation service have told the M.E.N they fear the scheme could result in a rise in rough sleeping.

Council staff in Manchester, however, are manning probation service offices to take homelessness applications and assess need.

By early yesterday evening, the council's homelessness team staff had taken eight applications from prisoners released from Strangeways.

Probation service bosses have been told by government to use budget hotels should temporary housing run out, but Manchester city council said it expects to manage any surplus need on top of existing homelessness demand and provision.

Councillor Joanna Midgley, deputy council leader, said: "We are working closely with probation services to understand the housing situations of prisoners being released who were previously resident in Manchester, many of whom will have accommodation to go to.