Released Prisoner Re-Offends Days After Early Release, Sparks Police Concerns
A man released under a government early release scheme was jailed again just four days later for shoplifting, prompting criticism from a senior police officer.
Michael Bogle, 38, was released from HMP Wandsworth on October 1 as part of an early release initiative aimed at alleviating pressure on prisons across England and Wales. The scheme was implemented as correctional facilities neared full capacity.
During the four days following his release, Bogle committed multiple shoplifting offenses, stealing over £100 worth of detergent from supermarkets in north London. He was arrested on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to the offenses in court on Wednesday, receiving an eight-month sentence. He had previously been serving a 32-week suspended sentence, of which he had served 78 days, and was jailed for breaching its terms.
Det Ch Supt Luke Williams of the Metropolitan Police highlighted Bogle's case in correspondence to local politicians, which was subsequently shared by Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp. Williams described the situation as "astonishing," noting that Bogle, identified as a high-risk offender by the probation service, was released on October 1 and recorded shoplifting on CCTV just one day later.
"The concerning nature of the Early Release Scheme in this case was a known prolific offender being put back into the community, only to immediately reoffend," Williams stated. He added that such instances place communities at risk and increase the demand on policing, which must then arrest, investigate, and process the individuals back into custody. The investigation into this specific case required 27 officer hours and cost £1,887.
Williams conveyed to MPs and councillors that while the police recognize the government's efforts to address prison system pressures, these pressures are being transferred to policing without adequate acknowledgment. He indicated that this is not an isolated issue but a pattern observed by Met officers across London.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice defended the scheme, stating, "We inherited a prison system on the brink of collapse. If we had failed to act, the police would have been forced to halt arrests, putting communities at untold risk." The ministry asserted that public safety is paramount and highlighted investments in more neighborhood police officers, increased police funding to £18.5 billion, and record investment in the probation service.
Offenders released early on license are subject to "toughest-ever controls," including exclusion zones and expanded electronic tagging, according to the ministry. Bogle himself commented outside prison prior to his re-arrest, stating that "people like me" should not be incarcerated for extended periods and urged the continuation of the early release program.