Hundreds more prisoners being freed early in latest wave of scheme

Hundreds more prisoners are being released early this morning, as part of a scheme to ease overcrowding in Britain's jails.

In a move introduced under the Sentencing Act 2026, around 5,000 prisoners will leave custody over the next year - before their custodial sentences are due to end.

Last month 650 prisoners, serving sentences between one-and-a-half and two-and-a-half years, were released.

And in today's third wave, another 650 prisoners will be released - those serving between two years and five months, and three years and two months.

The total number of releases is down from 6,000, after ministers intervened to exempt rapists and the most serious child sex offenders from the scheme.

Those guilty of manslaughter will also be excluded, meaning the killers of PC Andrew Harper, who died in the line of duty in 2019, will not be eligible for release.

To relieve pressure on the almost-full prison estate, the Sentencing Act requires prisoners on fixed-term (standard determinate) sentences to serve one-third of their time in jail - down from half.

And those convicted of more serious offences will be released after serving half their term, instead of two-thirds.

Released inmates are on licence and still serving their sentences in the community, and can be returned to jail if they breach their supervision conditions.

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Government officials said there is a presumption that all criminals freed early will be fitted with GPS tags by contractor Serco.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) previously said some of the most serious offenders will now also face the "toughest supervision in British history" once released, with the introduction of tighter restrictions on where they can go.

One prisoner released from HMP Durham last month told Sky News that although he was from Sunderland, he was being sent to Bristol - where he was arrested - and had to travel there immediately or risk being recalled to prison.

The prison population of England and Wales was 86,982 on Monday, according to MoJ data, up from 86,883 last week.

(c) Sky News 2026: Hundreds more prisoners being freed early in latest wave of scheme