Few things are more certain to generate bad headlines than releasing thousands of prisoners early—as Britain’s government did last autumn. Some of the country’s more attention-seeking villains duly arranged showy cars, and were only too happy to brief the waiting press. “Big up Keir Starmer,” said Daniel Dowling-Brooks, who had been in for kidnap and grievous bodily harm. Things got worse when it emerged that 37 inmates had been wrongly released. One committed a sexual assault hours after being freed.