Debate urged on 'freed' burglars

Tory MP Philip Davies seized on the comments of West Yorkshire Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison, revealed in the Yorkshire Post, that he had a "gut instinct" that repeat offenders were being released from prison earlier than before.

The Shipley MP raised the issue in the Commons yesterday, adding: “It’s causing the police in West Yorkshire lots of trouble that otherwise they wouldn’t have and it’s creating extra victims of crime that are completely unnecessary due to the incompetence of this Government.”

Harriet Harman, Leader of the Commons, claimed “no one” was released from prison because of a lack of prison places, only to be forced to clarify the statement minutes later after Mr Davies pointed out the Government had introduced an early release scheme.