Politics · United Kingdom · 1 hr ago
Second wave of early prison releases begins in England and Wales
A second wave of early prison releases has begun in England and Wales under a government plan to ease overcrowding.
About 2,000 offenders, including people convicted of domestic abuse and violent crimes, are due to leave prison this month, with another 3,000 to follow over the next year.
The planned total was cut from 6,000 after an intervention by Andy Burnham, and people convicted of manslaughter are excluded.
Released offenders are to face tighter monitoring, including electronic tags and movement restrictions for the highest-risk sexual and violent offenders.
The prison population rose by more than 1,700 in the past three months, while probation staff say early releases have added greatly to their workload.
Probation union members are preparing for an industrial-action ballot over pay and workloads, due to launch on 19 October.
The second wave of early prison releases has begun in England and Wales, with hundreds of offenders released.
About 2,000 people, including domestic abusers and violent offenders, are due to be freed this month, with another 3,000 released in stages over the next year.
The government says released offenders will face strict supervision, including electronic monitoring and movement restrictions for some high-risk offenders.
The victims’ commissioner said the government’s confidence in the plan was “not yet matched by the reality on the ground”.
Probation union Napo is preparing a ballot on industrial action over pay and workloads.
- Who
- Hundreds of offenders are being released from prisons in England and Wales.
- What
- The second wave of early releases under the government’s plan to ease overcrowding has begun.
- When
- The second wave began on 13 October 2026; about 2,000 people are due to be released this month.
- Where
- England and Wales.
- Why
- The government says the plan is intended to ease prison overcrowding.
Government
Claire Waxman, victims’ commissioner
Plan’s safeguards
Government
The Ministry of Justice says released offenders will be monitored under the “toughest supervision in British history”, with electronic tagging and restriction zones for some high-risk offenders.
Claire Waxman, victims’ commissioner
Waxman said the government’s confidence in the plan “is not yet matched by the reality on the ground”.
The prison population in England and Wales was 85,761.
The second wave of early releases began.
Napo’s formal ballot on industrial action is due to launch.
- People released this month
- About 2,000
- Further releases
- Another 3,000 over the next year
- Prison population
- 87,499 on Monday
- Prison population increase
- More than 1,700 in the past three months
What people are saying
toughest supervision in British history
is not yet matched by the reality on the ground
Sources
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