Early-released prisoners committed record 46,459 offences in late 2024
Official figures show that prisoners released in England and Wales under Labour’s first early release scheme committed a record number of new offences in late 2024. The figures have renewed scrutiny of the policy, which was introduced to ease pressure on prisons and has since been replaced by a broader scheme with larger sentence reductions.
People released between October and December 2024 committed 46,459 offences, around 7.55 each on average, compared with about 34,900 offences a year earlier. Across offenders released from custody or given other punishments, there were more than 138,400 further offences and the reoffending rate was 30.1 per cent. More than 79,000 prisoners had been released early by the end of June; the new scheme is expected to release up to 50,000 a year, but its individual release figures will not be published separately.
In short
- Early released prisoners committed 46,459 offences in late 2024.
- The overall reoffending rate rose to 30.1 per cent.
- More than 79,000 prisoners had been released early by June.
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The case for
Supporters can argue that early release was a necessary response to severe prison overcrowding and that shorter custody can help people return to work, housing and family support, which may reduce future offending. The figures warrant scrutiny, but they do not by themselves show how many offences would have been prevented by keeping these prisoners in custody or whether the scheme caused the increase.
The case against
Critics can argue that releasing people before the end of their sentences risks public safety and can weaken confidence that sentences will be served. The reported 46,459 offences, alongside a 30.1 per cent reoffending rate, raise questions about whether the release criteria and safeguards were adequate, especially as the replacement scheme is broader and its release figures will not be published separately.
Explained simply
England and Wales has used early release to reduce pressure on crowded prisons. Under the first scheme introduced by Labour, some prisoners could leave custody before serving their full sentence, subject to eligibility rules and supervision requirements.
The figures concern people released between October and December 2024 and offences recorded after their release. The government has since replaced the scheme with one allowing larger sentence reductions, which is expected to release more people; its release numbers will not be reported separately. The issue matters because it brings together prison capacity, public safety and how the effects of release policies are measured.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Labour’s soft justice bonanza sees number of new crimes committed by freed lags hit record high as it emerges more than 79,000 prisoners have now been let out of jail early”.