Fflint Wrecsam MS raises “unforgivable” prison rough sleeping figures

More than 200 prisoners released from HMP Berwyn in the past years were forced to sleep rough of their first night of freedom, the Senedd has heard.

Fflint Wrecsam MS Marc Jones described the situation as “unforgivable” during questions to the Deputy First Minister on prison resettlement services.

Mr Jones told the chamber that six out of 10 prisoners released from HMP Berwyn in Wrexham faced rough sleeping, and raised particular concern about the impact of the UK Government’s early release scheme announced earlier this year.

He added that 215 prisoners released from the prison last year were forced to spend their first night of freedom sleeping rough.

“These shocking figures came before the latest UK Government early release programme,” said Mr Jones.

“So, I am deeply concerned that we will see the situation worsen, and that’s why I want to ask the question, because it has a very detrimental impact on the services that we have locally in trying to deal with the problems of these former prisoners.

“What information have you received from the Government in London to help to reduce the number of former prisoners who are forced to sleep rough?”

Deputy First Minister Sioned Williams acknowledged the figures and said the situation was “not an acceptable” one.

She said: “These decisions regarding releasing prisoners have a direct effect on housing and homelessness services in Wales, and, of course, we recognise that homelessness amongst those who leave custody is a real challenge, but also completely unacceptable.

“Therefore, the Government continues to work closely with HMPPS and local authorities to ensure that the planning before people are released from custody is improved.

“And in terms of what we are doing, a post-custody working group, which is co-chaired by senior officials from Welsh Government and HMPPS, has been established and there’s a specific focus in this group on improving that planning, doing that much sooner, at the earliest stage possible, so that rough-sleeping and homelessness are completely avoided.”

The Berwyn figure comes from research by Dr Robert Jones of Cardiff University. Figures released by Mr Jones’s office after the session show 695 prison leavers managed by probation services in Wales were sleeping rough on the day of their release last year. That is a rise of 24 per cent on the year before.

Liberal Democrat MS Jane Dodds raised the same research earlier in the session.

“The report also found that nearly 700 people were released into rough sleeping in Wales, and that number has now risen for four years in a row,” she said.

“These are people who have served their sentences and should have the chance to get their lives back on track, but, instead, too many are leaving prison with no stable home, no proper support and nowhere to turn to.”

Ms Dodds also said the report found more than a third of people who died after leaving prison in Wales last year died from drug-related causes.