Prisoners will be let out on early release to fill jobs left vacant after Brexit, Justice Secretary says

Prisoners will be let out on temporary release to fill jobs left vacant after Brexit, the Justice Secretary has said.

David Gauke said Brexit presents an “opportunity” for offenders who want to gain experience in the workforce before they are released.

The minister was speaking at HMP Isis at the launch of a new Government strategy on the education and employment of prisoners.

Mr Gauke said educating prisoners and offering them jobs cuts the chance of reoffending, which costs taxpayers £15 billion per year.

He is keen to encourage governors to grant more prisoners release on temporary licence to be able to join the workforce before their sentence ends, in order to help their rehabilitation.

He said such early release helps offenders “build relationships and their CV before they have been released” adding it is a “powerful incentive for good behaviour in prison.”

Prisoners could fill a shortfall of migrant workers from Europe after Brexit, Mr Gauke said.

“Leaving the European Union is likely to have an impact on the workforce in sectors such as catering, construction and agriculture. Expanding the use of early release for work will mean employers will be able to fill the short term skills gap,” Mr Gauke said.

Sex offenders are among those eligible for early release for work, although Mr Gauke said they have to pass a higher threshold to qualify.

“It comes down to governors to assess whether people are safe or not,” he said.

The Government is currently consulting with prison governors about expanding the use of early release for work, including potentially making is available to higher security prisons.

Mr Gauke said the temporary release system “should not be restricted to category D prisons.”

Category D prisons house non-violent offenders and those guilty of white collar crimes.

The Justice Secretary wants more employers to follow in the footsteps of Greggs and Timpson in giving job opportunities to former prisoners.

He also urges employees to “call out their employers if they are turning a blind eye to hiring ex-offenders.”

Mr Gauke added the Government is also working to put former offenders into jobs in the civil service. Ministers are also considering offering National Insurance "holidays" to businesses which hire individuals who have served their sentences,

The strategy launched by Mr Gauke will also give prison governors “full control” over educational provision in their prisons from next April, and will also introduce greater scrutiny of classes being offered to inmates.

Prisons that fail to come up to a national minimum standard for education will be subject to “interventions” such as embedding temporary educational support staff in jails.