Eighteen prisoners set for early release in Bedfordshire amid pressures on prison capacity
Probation service to supervise offenders despite resource restraints
Eighteen prisoners in Bedfordshire are scheduled for early release next month as part of a national programme aimed at easing pressure on the prison estate.
The Bedfordshire Police and Crime Panel heard the update during its recent meeting, where Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner John Tizard outlined how the probation service, despite its resource restraints, will supervise those released.
Tizard described this summer as one of the county force’s busiest in years, citing a fatal police shooting in Bedford, a rail crash near Elstow, five homicides, and extradition processes involving the Tate brothers and a suspect from South Africa. He also highlighted the impact of the Bedford River Festival, county lines activity and organised crime groups.
He said the pressures on the force were “significant”, adding that while they do not excuse performance, they help put current challenges into context.
Tizard confirmed that 18 named offenders will be released early in October, with the probation service responsible for their supervision and police notified of each release. He noted that early release is “probably inevitable” given the state of the prison estate nationally.
The additional workload places pressure on the offender management unit, particularly if any of the individuals need to be recalled to custody.
On performance, Tizard said Bedfordshire Police continues to achieve around 90 per cent of 999 calls answered within ten seconds — meeting the national standard. However, response times for “immediate” incidents remain below the 80 per cent national benchmark, with the force currently in the “high 50s”, though improving.
A new report has highlighted investigating crime as a national issue, partly because of insufficient qualified detectives. Bedfordshire now has more detectives than a year ago, with many in training, and its solve rate has improved — though Tizard said there is still progress to be made.
Domestic abuse and domestic violence remain priorities for the force. While improvements have been made, repeat offending continues to be a challenge. Tizard said officers are making greater use of court orders to hold perpetrators to account.
He also updated the panel on police governance reform, explaining the government intends for mayors to take over the role of Police and Crime Commissioners from May 2028. The Police Reform Bill, originally expected in recent weeks, is now anticipated to receive its first reading in January. Tizard said the government still aims to meet the 2028 timetable, though it will be “a tight schedule”.