Archive · 1 Oct 2026
England and Wales to Free 700 Prisoners Early Amid Overcrowding
England and Wales do not have many empty prison spaces left.
The government plans to let some prisoners leave jail earlier than expected, while they continue their sentences in the community.
About 700 people are expected to leave on 1 October.
Around 4,500 could be released early by next summer.
These prisoners must follow rules, such as attending probation meetings and living at an approved address.
Some will wear electronic tags, and they can be sent back to prison if they break the rules.
People convicted of especially serious crimes, including murder and sexual offences, are not included.
Victims worry that early releases could put people at risk.
The government says it is adding probation staff and building more prison places to ease the problem.
Around 700 prisoners in England and Wales are due to be released on 1 October, with about 4,500 expected to leave early by next summer.
The prison population has reached 87,499 across 120 prisons, leaving roughly 1,500 spare places and raising concerns capacity could run out by Christmas.
The scheme allows some prisoners to serve part of their sentence in the community after completing one-third or one-half of their custodial term.
People convicted of murder, manslaughter, sexual offences, grooming-related offences and fatal driving offences are excluded.
Victims and probation officials have raised safety and workload concerns, while the government says extra staff, electronic monitoring and new prison places will help.
- Who
- The government of England and Wales, prisoners eligible under the Earned Progression scheme, probation services and victims affected by potential releases.
- What
- Around 700 prisoners are due to be released early, as part of a plan expected to release about 4,500 people by next summer.
- When
- The first releases are scheduled for the morning of 1 October; the wider scheme is expected to operate through next summer and beyond.
- Where
- Across prisons and probation services in England and Wales.
- Why
- Prison capacity is under severe pressure, with 87,499 people held in 120 prisons and only about 1,500 spaces remaining.
Government and Capacity Pressures
Victims and Public-Safety Concerns
Need for early release
Government and Capacity Pressures
The government says prisons could run out of space by Christmas, and abandoning the scheme could eventually prevent courts from sending newly convicted offenders to prison.
Victims and Public-Safety Concerns
Victims and campaigners argue that releasing offenders before their previously expected date can create fear and undermine confidence in sentences.
Supervision in the community
Government and Capacity Pressures
The government says licence conditions, electronic tags, probation supervision and rehabilitation can manage released prisoners, with breaches leading to recall.
Victims and Public-Safety Concerns
The probation inspector and staff union have warned that heavy caseloads, staff departures and delayed tagging could make supervision less reliable.
Scope of the policy
Government and Capacity Pressures
Supporters say the rules change only when prisoners become eligible for community release; the length of their sentences does not change, and serious offences remain excluded.
Victims and Public-Safety Concerns
Critics, including domestic-abuse survivors, question whether the safeguards adequately protect victims from violent or controlling former partners.
- First release date
- Morning of 1 October
- Initial releases
- Around 700 prisoners
- Expected total by next summer
- About 4,500 prisoners
- Current prison population
- 87,499 people across 120 prisons
- Remaining capacity
- Approximately 1,500 places
- Excluded offences
- Murder, manslaughter, sexual offences, grooming-related offences and driving offences resulting in death
- Long-term capacity plan
- The government aims to add 14,000 prison places by 2030 through a £7 billion building programme