World News
UK government sets 1 October to begin revised early prison releases
Revisions delay the start by a month, exclude 71 offences, and will free an estimated 4,500 prisoners to ease capacity pressures in England and Wales.
The short version
- Around 700 eligible prisoners in England and Wales will be freed on 1 October under an amended early release programme.
- The updated policy pushes the start date back by one month and excludes 71 specific offences, lowering the projected total releases by roughly 1,400 to 4,500.
- Prisons are operating at 97% capacity, leaving approximately 1,500 available spaces in the male estate.
- Subsequent cohorts will be released in phases through mid-2027, with the next group of 650 eligible on 13 October.
Key facts
- Approximately 700 eligible offenders are scheduled for release on 1 October, with an estimated 2,550 to be freed by the end of the year under the revised programme.[BBC News]
- The government excluded 71 offences from the scheme—including manslaughter, rape, grooming, and child sexual offences—as well as offenders on life terms and extended sentences.[BBC News]
- The exclusions and schedule change reduced the projected number of early releases by around 1,400 to an estimated total of 4,500.[BBC News]
- Prisons across England and Wales are currently running at 97% capacity, leaving roughly 1,500 open spaces in the male prison system.[BBC News]
- The Ministry of Justice is allocating £110m from existing funds to convert storage areas, laundries, and unused offices into additional prison cells.[BBC News]
- A second group of about 650 offenders serving between 19 months and two years and five months is set for release beginning 13 October.[BBC News]
What remains uncertain
- Justice Secretary Alex Norris estimated that internal conversions would yield somewhere between 200 and 900 new prison places, leaving the final capacity gain unconfirmed.[BBC News]
Sources
- About 700 prisoners to be freed on 1 October under revised early release plansBBC News - Top Stories