# Why are hundreds of prisoners being released early?

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/why-are-hundreds-of-prisoners-being-released-early/
- Published: 2026-11-09T16:51:40+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-09T17:27:52+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Politics (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3rxlyz6w3o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Government, Politics

## Key points

- Around 650 prisoners are due to be released early on Tuesday.
- The scheme aims to relieve pressure on prisons in England and Wales.
- The prison population was at 97.6% of usable capacity on 9 November.

## Summary

About 650 prisoners in England and Wales are due to be released early on Tuesday as part of the government’s scheme to ease pressure on overcrowded prisons. Ministers say the measure is needed because the prison population could exceed available capacity without changes to sentencing and release rules.

Eligible prisoners can now be released after serving a third of their sentence, instead of 40% or 50%; people convicted of manslaughter, rape and serious child sexual or grooming offences are excluded. The prison population stood at 86,982 on 9 November, or 97.6% of usable capacity, and 4,500 early releases are planned by June 2027. Longer sentences, more licence recalls and delays in adding prison places have also contributed to pressure on 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.