Prisoners deemed "potentially dangerous" and who had been jailed
indefinitely in Britain could now be set free after the European Court
of Human Rights said it was a breach of their human rights.
The
European court ruled that jailing dangerous prisoners indefinitely on
the grounds of risk, without giving them access to rehabilitation
courses was a breach of human rights, the Daily Express reported.
More
than 6,500 offenders are currently in British jails without any fixed
date for their release due to protection of public safety.
The
case came to the attention of the court after three Britons -- Brett
James, Nicholas Wells and Jeffrey Lee -- were sentenced in 2005.
The
report said a failure to ensure the prisoners had access to courses in
prison harmed their ability to show they were rehabilitated and able to
be released.
The judges said it was clear that "the delays were the result of a lack of resources".
The
British government was ordered by the court to pay 14,000 pounds in
damages and almost 30,000 pounds in costs and expenses to the three
inmates.
James was jailed for two years for unlawful wounding with intent. Wells and Lee were jailed for serious violent offences.
