Hundreds of criminals start leaving prison under early release scheme

Hundreds of inmates in England and Wales are being released early as part of a government initiative to address severe prison overcrowding. The scheme aims to prevent facilities from reaching full capacity, with approximately 4,500 prisoners expected to be released in waves through June 2027.

While the government maintains that strict monitoring, including electronic tagging, will be enforced, the policy has faced significant backlash. Critics, including victims' groups, have raised concerns regarding public safety and the capacity of the Probation Service to manage the influx of individuals back into the community.