Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin suggested there could be a 'friendly settlement' to the interstate case which Ireland took against the UK over the controversial Legacy Act aimed at addressing Northern Ireland's troubled past.
Claims that the prisons crisis could trigger a breakdown of law and order within weeks were blasted by the Tories as 'shameless scaremongering' last night.
'Labour have come into government with hundreds of prison places available – but they've lost their nerve, and are now stoking public panic for political gain.
'If nothing was done, I would be professionally very, very worried by the August bank holiday,' a senior prisons source said. A senior police source said the system would grind to a halt if newly remanded criminals could not be sent from the courts to prison. It is understood that senior figures in the criminal justice system fear it could trigger looting, opportunistic crimes and brazen breaches of bail conditions by offenders living in the community.
He confirmed thousands of inmates will have to be freed early, but said 'exemption categories' will mean high-risk prisoners are ineligible. Asked if former PM Rishi Sunak had blocked similar measures, Mr Chalk refused to disclose private discussions but added: 'It is reasonable to say there were a variety of views about what could be got through Parliament.'
Much depends on how well it is managed. It takes up to six weeks to prepare an inmate for release, so they have somewhere to live and are properly supervised when they get out, for example.But if done poorly – and note that the probation service is already under severe stress – there is a terrible risk of criminals going back to their old ways.
News Labour Keir Starmer Conservatives
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Micheal O Muircheartaigh was like ‘grandfather’ to Irish nation, funeral hearsThe renowned Gaelic games commentator died on Tuesday morning aged 93, surrounded by family members in a Dublin hospital.
Read more »
Micheal O Muircheartaigh was like ‘grandfather’ to Irish nation, funeral hearsThe renowned Gaelic games commentator died on Tuesday morning aged 93, surrounded by family members in a Dublin hospital.
Read more »
Glastonbury 2024: Your guide to the NI and Irish artistsGlastonbury kicks off this week with many Northern Irish and Irish artists taking to the stages.
Read more »
'We need a very strong Labour Government' – Billionaire businessman switches from Tories to LabourA billionaire living on the county border who previously donated £500,000 to the Conservatives has said he will be voting for Labour – and encourages others to do the same.
Read more »
Larne 0-1 Cliftonville LIVE score updates from NIFL Charity Shield as the Reds take a first half leadThe Irish Premiership champions and Irish Cup winners face off in annual season curtain raiser
Read more »
Labour win ‘down to Keir Starmer changing the Labour Party fundamentally’, says Liz KendallWe spoke to Labour frontbencher Liz Kendall and asked how it feels to be in power after so long.
Read more »