Another 650 criminals are freed from prisons across England and Wales in the second tranche of Labour’s early release bonanza
A further 650 prisoners are due to be released early across England and Wales under Labour’s scheme to reduce prison overcrowding. The policy matters because it cuts the time some people spend in custody, including those convicted of violent offences and domestic abuse, while the Ministry of Justice will not publish a separate count of beneficiaries.
The latest group includes people serving sentences of up to two and a half years, who will be released after serving a third of their term rather than half. The first tranche freed about 700 prisoners on 1 October; the scheme is set to expand in stages and could affect up to 50,000 prisoners a year. Police have reported some rapid reoffending, including one man who admitted 11 shoplifting offences, and Greater Manchester Police said eight men were arrested within days of release.
- 650 more prisoners are due for early release.
- Some will have served a third of their sentence.
- Officials will not publish a separate tally of those released.
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The prisons in England and Wales have been severely overcrowded, leading the Labour government to introduce an early release scheme to manage capacity. The policy allows prisoners to leave custody before completing their full sentences.
Under the scheme, prisoners serving sentences of up to two and a half years are released after serving one-third of their term rather than half. The scheme launched in October and is being rolled out in stages, with the potential to release tens of thousands of prisoners annually.
The scheme applies to prisoners convicted of various offences, including violent crimes and domestic abuse, though the government has not published detailed information about who is released. Early instances of reoffending by released prisoners have been documented by police forces.
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The case for
Supporters argue the scheme addresses a genuine crisis of prison overcrowding that undermines the entire justice system. They contend that evidence shows most released prisoners do not reoffend whilst rehabilitation and support prove more effective than extended custody, and that public safety is better served by a functioning system with targeted reoffending prevention. The scheme includes safeguards against releasing serious violent offenders and represents a pragmatic response to a systemic challenge.
The case against
Opponents contend that releasing prisoners significantly early compromises public safety and the justice owed to victims, particularly when reoffending occurs within days as documented. They argue sentences must retain meaningful consequences and that early release undermines public confidence in law and order. They maintain that alternative solutions such as increased prison capacity should be pursued instead.