Crime & Justice
Early prisoner releases begin in England and Wales amid homelessness warnings
October 1, 2026 at 11:29 AM · Updated 15d ago
Coverage
5 reports · over 1390 hours
BNBBC News
Attacker's early prison release left victim 'feeling like an afterthought'
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TGThe Guardian
Prisoners thank Andy Burnham as they leave jail in first wave of early releases
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BNBBC News
Hundreds of criminals start leaving prison under new early release scheme
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TGThe Guardian
Prisoners freed early in England and Wales risk living on the streets, say probation officers
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BNBBC News
Early prison releases: Why some prisoners are being freed after a third of their sentence
(opens the publisher’s site)England and Wales have begun releasing roughly 700 prisoners early under an overcrowding-driven scheme, as probation officers warn many face release with nowhere to live.
- Around 700 prisoners were released on 1 October in the first tranche of the scheme after serving a third of their sentences.
- The 2026 Sentencing Act scheme will free about 2,000 prisoners over the next month and 3,000 more over the following year.
- A probation source said some prisoners are being released "straight on to the street" because hostels for ex-offenders are full.
- Ben Cockburn, Napo's national chair, said HM Prison Service was in "absolute denial" about staff shortages, unsafe workloads and failing electronic monitoring.
- Released prisoners, including shoplifter Michael Bogle, thanked Andy Burnham as they left HMP Wandsworth and HMP Durham.
- The scheme is expected to release 4,500 inmates in total, with releases continuing until June 2027.
- Victims' advocates criticised the early release scheme, warning that it poses a risk to public safety.
- The Ministry of Justice reported that prison occupancy across England and Wales stood at 98.2%.
- Victim Pritchett, from Coventry, said she learned of her attacker's early release on a random Tuesday and felt victims 'aren't at the forefront of these decisions.'
- The Ministry of Justice said it intends to contact all victims of offenders released under the early-release scheme 'as soon as possible.'