Hundreds of criminals have been freed early from Shropshire’s prisons to ease overcrowding, official Government figures reveal today.Some 545 have been released from the county’s jails in the first year of the scheme which came into force on June 29, last year.

Statistics show a total of 241 convicts have been let out early from Shrewsbury and 304 from Stoke Heath in Market Drayton.

The data, obtained by the Conservatives from the Ministry of Justice, shows that across England and Wales some 31,549 prisoners serving between four weeks and four years have been released early on licence for the final 18 days of their sentence – including 5,975 violent offenders.

Around 442 offenders have allegedly reoffended during this period – and at least 615 crimes have allegedly been committed by prisoners on early release, including a murder, an alleged rape and five sexual offences.

And of the 1,060 prisoners recalled, 99 remain unlawfully at large.

The Government estimated that around 25,500 would be let out early within the year, but in March, the Conservatives claimed the true figure was likely to be more than 30,000 at the then release rate.

Shadow Justice Secretary, Nick Herbert said: “This incompetent Government is failing in its most basic duty to protect the public.

“They refused to provide the necessary jail places and now they have released over 31,500 prisoners early on to the streets in a single year, including thousands of violent offenders.

“One murder has already been committed when the offender should have been safely behind bars, other prisoners have been recalled for alleged crimes including assault and rape, and almost 100 suspects are still on the run.

“Gordon Brown won’t even consider ending this scheme until the prison capacity has reached 86,000 in September next year, by which time almost 70,000 criminals will have been let out early.”

Registered sex offenders, former escapees, foreign nationals awaiting deportation at the end of their sentence, prisoners serving jail terms for murder, manslaughter, wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, child cruelty and serious explosives-related offences, do not form a part of the scheme.

By Sunita Patel