Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has laid out his solution to Britain's prison crisis following the news that jails will be full in just a few months' time.
Jenrick warned MPs that 10,500 inmates born overseas were in British jails. He said they, along with the 17,000 on remand waiting for trial, made up a third of the prison population.
"The sensible step forward would obviously be to introduce emergency measures to expedite deportations and get the courts sitting around the clock," he said.
"If the Justice Secretary [Shabana Mahmood] chose to do that, we would support her. But so far she hasn't."
Politics LIVE: Justice Secretary to give urgent briefing on prisons crisis as jails reach 99% capacityJenrick added that Mahmood had not taken the judiciary up on their offer to have even more court days, and "instead, she's decided to let out early criminals who reoffend or breach their licence".
"There is now no punishment or deterrent for criminals who immediately reoffend, or cheat the system," he spat.
"The Justice Secretary says these people will be, and I quote, 'in prison outside of prison'.
"Well I am sure hardened criminals will be quaking in their boots at that farcical double-speak.
"There is no two ways about it. This decision has put the public in danger and victims in jeopardy."
Jenrick spoke in the Commons earlier today
GETTYThe plans were also criticised by victims commissioner Baroness Newlove and domestic abuse commissioner Dame Nicole Jacobs, who said lives would be in danger as a result of the decision.
Baroness Newlove said: "Victims will understandably feel unnerved and bewildered by today’s announcement.
"If the Probation Service, the secretary of state and the Parole Board have all judged these individuals to pose a risk of harm to the public, then reducing time served on recall can only place victims and the wider public at an unnecessary risk of harm."
Dame Nicole called for the proposal to be scrapped, saying: "I cannot stress (enough) the lack of consideration for victims’ safety and how many lives are being put in danger because of this proposed change."
Andrea Coomber KC, chief executive of charity the Howard League for Penal Reform, said the recall change is a "logical step to take" when the recall population is rising so quickly, and said the upcoming sentencing review is a chance for "a lasting solution to this mess".
"There is no time to lose, and only bold reform will do," she said.
Ministers say the scheme will exclude people convicted of serious violent or sexual offences, as well as terrorist and national security crimes.
