Community scheme could accept extra prisoners

Many of the 400-odd criminals given unstructured temporary release from prison could be brought into a supervised release programme, according to an official report.

The first evaluation of the Community Return Programme — introduced in October 2011 to ease overcrowding — found that 548 (72%) of the 761 participants had successfully completed the programme.

A further 108 (14%) were currently in the programme, while 88 (12%) were in breach of it and returned to prison.