MoJ ‘put public at risk’ after quietly transferring inmates to open prisons

Leaked document emerges as domestic abuse survivors seek clarification over plans to cut sentences for low-level' offenders

The Ministry of Justice has been accused of putting the public at risk after quietly transferring locked up offenders to open prisons in a move to ease a critical overcrowding crisis.

The Prison Officers' Association (POA) said officials launched a new scheme to swap dozens of prisoners to Category D prisons at the end of September without conducting pre-transfer assessments that would decide if it was safe to send them to the open estate.