Judge condemns early release scheme

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The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, also called for a clearer sentencing structure to make it easier for the public to understand jail terms.

His comments will be seen as a blow to Justice Secretary Jack Straw, who was last week forced to change the rules of a "get out of jail early" scheme, known as End of Custody Licence, after it was revealed that two terrorists had been freed.

In another Government measure, some prisoners are entitled to be released months early on an electronic tag under the so-called Home Detention Curfew scheme.

"I think it is still difficult for the public to understand sentencing as a whole," said Lord Phillips.

"Where prisoners are released in these circumstances, that is to a degree - not a large degree - an erosion of the sentence that the judge imposed and anticipated would be served.

"I think it would be very much better if one had a clear sentencing structure, where if you imposed a sentence you could see how long that individual might spend in prison and when they would be eligible for parole."