The second round of Labour's early prison release scheme saw around 1,100 inmates released on Tuesday – and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is insistent that she wants this emergency release to be the last. As Mr S wrote earlier, a rather interesting range of jailbirds were let out early today – including convicted drug dealers, violent assaulters and identity thieves. But, in a shocking turn of events, it transpires that a London criminal jailed for the kidnap and torture of a 16 year old boy has also been let out early under the scheme.
Isaac Donkoh – a gang member and drill music artist also known as Young Dizz – was imprisoned in 2019 after enlisting four boys under the age of 18 to attack another 16 year old boy. In a chilling series of events, some of which were filmed by Donkoh, the victim was threatened with a machete, was told Donkoh would ‘cut him up’ and had the inmate attempt to pour boiling water over the boy’s head. His parents were called, and the 16 year old was forced to beg them for £1,500 so that he be released. The detective chief inspector at the time lamented the ‘profoundly distressing impact’ of the crime on the victim, adding about the prisoner’s sentence: ‘I believe that removing Donkoh from the streets of Newham has done a great deal to reduce serious violence in the borough.’ ‘Young Dizz’ – who even boasted about the violence in a drill song ‘Drill and Repent’ – was handed a sentence of 12-and-a-half years in prison after he pled guilty to kidnap, conspiracy to falsely imprison, conspiracy to blackmail, grievous bodily harm and perverting the course of justice.
Early Release and Public Backlash
Now, under Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour lot’s new rules, eligible prisoners are being released on licence after serving 40 per cent of their sentence in prison. The scheme is meant to exclude those convicted of serious violence – yet despite the police chief on the case describing Donkoh’s crime as ‘extremely violent’, the criminal was today let out. Mr S has reached out to the justice department for comment on this case, but has so far not heard back. The former inmate was quick to take to both Twitter and TikTok to announce his release – posting images of himself inside a Land Rover worth over £140,000 on social media, boasting that he ‘came home to an armoured truck’. Good heavens…
The Public Reaction
Of course, Donkoh isn’t the first prisoner to flaunt a flash car on his release either. Sir Keir Starmer was rather displeased to see inmates posing in front of Bentleys, Lamborghinis and Rolls Royces this morning, with the PM’s spokesperson adamant Starmer ‘shares the public’s anger’ at the jubilant scenes. But while the Labour leader was insistent that ‘there was no choice not to act’ on the issue of overcrowded prisons, the freeing of prisoners like Donkoh today will only raise more questions about how exactly ‘eligible’ inmates were selected for early release – especially after almost 40 people were, um, wrongly released the first time around. It’s shaping up to be yet another unwanted headache for Sir Keir’s lefty lot…
The Implications of Early Release
The case of Isaac Donkoh highlights the growing public concern surrounding the early release of prisoners, particularly those convicted of serious crimes. While Labour has stated that the scheme is necessary to alleviate overcrowding in prisons, the release of high-profile individuals like Donkoh has raised questions about the effectiveness and fairness of the policy. The public's anger is palpable, and the controversy surrounding this scheme is likely to continue as more details emerge. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the complex and often challenging task of balancing the needs of the justice system with public safety.
The consequences of such early releases extend beyond the immediate impact on individual victims. The potential for recidivism among released inmates and the erosion of public trust in the justice system are crucial considerations. The public deserves a clear and transparent explanation of the criteria used to determine eligibility for early release, along with reassurances that the process is fair and does not compromise public safety.
The release of Donkoh has sparked a heated debate about the merits of Labour's prison release scheme. As the public continues to voice its concerns, it remains to be seen whether the government will address these issues adequately. The future of this policy hangs in the balance, and the outcome will have far-reaching consequences for both the justice system and the public's trust in it.
