Member

We fully recognise the risk posed by offenders who breach licence conditions, civil orders or criminal orders related to their victims. However, we are still of the view that introducing the exemption proposed by these amendments, even on a time-limited basis, would undermine the consistency of the approach contained in the Bill. As I said earlier, before any recalled offender is re-released, probation officers review their release plans and licence conditions with a focus on mitigating risk against known victims. This will take account of any patterns of behaviour, and where risk escalates, an offender can be recalled again to prison. The improvements we are making in probation, underpinned by up to £700 million of additional funding by 2028-29, will support staff to do what they do best—manage offenders and protect the public. The Bill also allows the Secretary of State to override automatic re-release and convert a fixed-term recall to a standard recall in exceptional circumstances. I thank noble Lords and the noble Baroness for raising this issue and I hope they will feel able not to press their amendments.