# Third wave releases 650 prisoners early amid public safety concerns

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/a-thug-in-every-postcode-criminals-flip-middle-fingers-make-gun-signs-and-vow-to-start-claiming-benefits-as-650-prisoners-are-freed-early-under-labour-scheme/
- Published: 2026-11-10T17:03:35+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-10T17:38:05+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16280435/criminals-freed-prisons-Labours-early-release-scheme.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: World

## Key points

- A third wave freed 650 prisoners early.
- The scheme aims to ease overcrowding in England and Wales.
- Prisons remained at almost 98 per cent capacity.

## Summary

A third wave of 650 prisoners was released early in England and Wales under a Labour scheme intended to relieve overcrowding. The releases have drawn criticism over public safety, particularly for women, after some people leaving prison were reported celebrating and making gestures that appeared to trivialise their offences.

The scheme allows eligible prisoners to leave after serving a third of their sentence instead of half; the latest releases include people serving terms of up to three years and two months. At least 1,350 prisoners had already been released in the first two waves since 1 October, and the programme is due to expand monthly until early June. Prisons remained close to full, with 87,033 people held and 1,951 places vacant, or around 98 per cent capacity.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.