SEVENTY prisoners have been released early from prisons within 50 miles of Somerset this week, with more to follow.

Figures released by the Prison Officers' Association show that seventy prisoners qualifying for early release have been freed from prisons surrounding Somerset since Tuesday, September 10.

HMP/Young Offender Institution Portland has seen the most releases so far, with 31 prisoners freed early. This is followed by HM Prison Erlestoke, in Devizes, Wiltshire, where 15 offenders have been released early.

Ten prisoners were released early under the scheme from HMP Bristol, plus another ten from HMP Guys Marsh in Shaftesbury.

Four prisoners were given early release from HMP Exeter. Meanwhile, no prisoners have been released early from HMP Ashfield in Bristol, or HMP The Verne in Portland, as of Thursday, September 12.

Further afield in HMP Channings Wood, in Newton Abbot, ten prisoners were released early this week.

The Ministry of Justice announced in July that around 5,500 offenders are to be freed early in September and October in England and Wales, in a bid to cut overcrowding – this does not apply to those convicted of sex offences, terrorism, domestic abuse or some violent offences.

More information on the types of offenders eligible for early release can be found here.

Over the next two months prisoners on “standard determinate sentences” are being automatically released after they have served 40% of their sentence. Around 1,700 prisoners were released on Tuesday, September 10.

Speaking on Wednesday, September 11, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer defended freeing criminals, including some convicted killers, early from prison as he angrily blamed previous government inaction for forcing him into the move.

The Prime Minister’s comments came as it emerged some convicted of manslaughter are eligible for the scheme. Murderers are not eligible as they have to serve mandatory life sentences.

Sir Keir told MPs: “I’m angry to be put in a position of having to release people who should be in prison because the last government broke the prison system."

Tuesday’s exodus came after Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced plans in July to cut temporarily the proportion of sentences which inmates must serve behind bars from 50% to 40% as the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said overcrowding had pushed jails to the “point of collapse”.