Met Commissioner warns early release of domestic abusers threatens public safety

In a conversation with Nick Ferrari, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley voiced deep worry about the Labour government's early-release programme for violent and domestic offenders. He noted that more than 700 prisoners were released early this month and that London police are logging roughly 100 breaches of electronic-tag conditions daily, with over 95% resulting merely in bail rather than a return to custody.

A caller from Canterbury, known only as Kirsty, said her stalker, sentenced to five years in January 2025, will be freed under the scheme, leaving her angry and unsafe. Rowley said the government's sentencing and prison-building policies are out of sync, creating a "crash" that forces volatile individuals back into communities. He added that arrest warrants have risen to about 1,600 per month, while fewer offenders are being reprimanded in prison. The Met is trying to better identify the most dangerous releasees, but the rising breach numbers and limited sanctions raise serious concerns about victim protection.