Falconer denies reports of early release for thousands of prisoners

Lord Falconer denied claims today he was poised to grant thousands of prisoners early release to ease overcrowding in jails.

The Lord Chancellor will assume responsibility for prisons this week with the creation of the new Ministry of Justice.

He said a report in The Observer that one of his first acts would be to release 3,000 prisoners was "simply wrong".

Lord Falconer told Sky News he would not announce prison policy before taking charge of the Ministry of Justice.

But he stressed: "I'm not going to announce early releases because of prisons overcrowding... any early releases."

The Observer reported that a decision to release thousands of prisoners before they have completed their sentences is expected to be announced after responsibility for prisons is transferred from the Home Office to the new Ministry of Justice on Wednesday.

The newspaper went on to say that Falconer was understood to have come to this conclusion two weeks ago after hosting a dinner attended by Lord Phillips, the Lord Chief Justice, Judge Igor Judge, president of the Queen's Bench division and senior representatives from the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Prison Service.