A homeless charity in Leeds has warned of "chaos" after an influx of early-release prisoners arrived in the city with no accommodation, food or support.
Becky Joyce, director and co-founder of Homeless Street Angels, said the charity encountered many newly released prisoners during outreach work in Leeds city centre on Thursday evening. Some had been released with as little as £80 and no basic provisions.
One young man the charity assisted had been released from prison and was found lying on a bench in distress. Joyce said he had been targeted by other rough sleepers who encouraged him to use spice, a synthetic drug, shortly after his release.
Prisoners consider re-offending
Joyce said some of those released told her they were considering committing crimes to return to prison because it offered a guaranteed safe space.
"It's heartbreaking because they're desperate," Joyce said. "The reason of going to prison is so you can learn from your mistakes, rebuild your life and start afresh. But there's nothing there for you to start afresh."
She added: "There's no support, no network, and the only option to have a safe space is to do what you did in the first place, to get yourself back in prison."
Government early-release scheme
Around 700 people left prisons across England and Wales under the government's early prisoner release plan on Thursday. Those freed had been serving sentences of up to 19 months but were released after completing 33% rather than 50% of their term.
The government said prisons, probation and councils work together before prisoners are released to assess housing need. Prisoners at risk of becoming homeless could be offered up to 12 weeks of basic accommodation.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said prisons were on "the brink of collapse" and the government was investing in rough sleeping support. The ministry said it was "building 14,000 new prison places and working with councils and charities to halve prison-leaver homelessness by 2029, supported by a record £700m investment in probation and community services".
