Released prisoner relocated to London after local housing unavailable

Luke Ings was released from prison in the United Kingdom after serving 21 years for crimes committed in 2006.

The 38-year-old man from Bracknell had his indefinite sentence quashed by judges who ruled his detention was no longer necessary. The reunion between Ings and his family was short-lived because the Probation Service could not find suitable housing in his hometown. Instead, authorities moved him to a maisonette in east London.

His mother, Sam Ings, said the move was a shock for her son because he lost his local support network and was placed in a property she described as being in terrible condition. Ings said he feels as though he is back in prison because he is living far away from his mother, sister, and brother. He currently lives in supported accommodation where staff help him learn to manage banking and Universal Credit, a UK benefit system.

He noted that he can only contact his family by phone or video call. The Ministry of Justice stated that prison teams assess every prisoner's needs before release and work with local services to secure housing and support. The ministry also noted that prisoners at risk of homelessness who are supervised by probation can receive up to 12 weeks of temporary accommodation.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission referred Ings' case as one of 25 cases involving abolished sentencing regimes it has sent back to the courts this year.