THE director general of the British Prison Service, Mr Richard Tilt, will attempt to explain today why he authorised the early of nearly 5,000 prisoners without informing the Home Secretary, Mr Michael Howard.
Although Mr Tilt was forced to return early from his holiday for an "urgent" meeting with Mr Howard, he insisted yesterday he would not resign over the issue. Mr Tilt also stressed that he had agreed with Mr Howard's decision to suspend the policy until the law is clarified by the courts later this week.
"I have no intention of resigning. I am not sure anybody is to blame," he said.
However, several senior Tory MPs, clearly determined to defend Mr Howard's reputation accused Mr Tilt of a "gross dereliction of duty" by failing to inform the Home Secretary about the predicted mass release of prisoners. According to officials Mr Howard finally learnt about the policy from a TV interviewer late last week and was "deeply embarrassed".
Mr Warren Hawksley, a Tory member of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, described the fiasco as "disgraceful" and insisted that whoever was to blame should be sacked.
"If somebody failed to do their job and tell the Home Secretary, then the question of heads rolling is one we would have to ask for.
He is the best Home Secretary we've ever had in my time in Parliament. But he's been set up by the judges and he's been set up by the Prison Service," he said.
Although the Labour party warned Mr Ho/ward that he must not "pass the buck" by making Mr Tilt a "scapegoat", it is unlikely that the British government will dismiss him, as it could not afford to sack two directors in quick succession. Mr Derek Lewis, the former director, was fired last year after a series of prison escapes.
"There's no point Michael Howard blaming others for this fiasco," said the Shadow Home Secretary, Mr Jack Straw. "This has all blown up in his face as a result of his decision to evade responsibility for the running of the Prison Service by saying he is only responsible for policy."
Prisons across Britain spent the Bank Holiday weekend on "red alert," with some staff leave cancelled and extra security measures implemented to prevent disappointed inmates rioting in protest at Mr Howard's decision to suspend the policy.
"We have asked prison governors to monitor very closely behaviour and reaction of prisoners. So far it has been extremely quiet," said a Prison Service spokesman. "Obviously, there is some disappointment but so far there has been no adverse reaction.
Last week the Prison Service decided to release prisoners early because they had misinterpreted the length of time an inmate who received consecutive sentences should serve by only deducting time spent on remand from one sentence rather than both.
If the courts uphold this interpretation of the rules, then over 5,000 prisoners, including several Irish inmates, will immediately be released.
A Home Office official also confirmed that the British taxpayer will have to fund any compensation to the prisoners which could be as much as several million pounds.