Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to ensure public protection as part of her Department's early release scheme.

Amending the automatic release point for eligible Standard Determinate Sentences to 40% (SDS40) has allowed us to end more challenging measures like End of Custody Supervised Licence which gave us less predictability and stability in release planning.

Delivery of SDS40 prioritises public safety with strict probation supervision for those released from custody and, where necessary, conditions like tagging and curfews. Should offenders breach these conditions, they face being immediately recalled to prison. A pre-release plan will be ensured for everyone leaving custody.

The Probation Service plays a crucial role in protecting the public and reducing reoffending. We are strengthening probation by building a supported, skilled and resilient workforce that can deliver high quality supervision, focused on the areas of highest risk, and delivered within manageable caseloads. In recognition of this, we are recruiting at least 1,000 new trainee Probation Officers by the end of March 2025.