HL Deb 03 October 2000 vol 616 cc213-4WA
Lord Windlesham

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On what date the early release of prisoners under Home Detention Curfew supervision came into effect; what are the criteria for release; and what has been the effect on the size of the prison population. [HL3841]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

The Home Detention Curfew (HDC) scheme was introduced on January 28 1999. Prisoners serving sentences of more than three months, and less than four years, are eligible to apply for HDC.

In order to be released under the HDC scheme, the prisoner must have a suitable address to return to and in which the electronic monitoring device can be installed. In addition, prisoners are subject to a rigorous risk assessment which looks at their suitability for release on HDC, including the risk of reoffending. Only about 30 per cent of eligible offenders have been placed on HDC to date.

There are some statutory exclusions to the scheme. These include, amongst others:

violent and sex offenders serving an extended sentence (i.e. one which will involve extended supervision) under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998;

prisoners serving a sentence for failing to return to custody following a period of temporary release;

prisoners who have at any time been returned to prison for comitting an offence before the at risk period of a sentence has expired.

There are normally 2,000 prisoners on HDC at any one time who would otherwise be in prison.