Expanded Early Release Scheme Begins in England and Wales

On Thursday, October 1, 2026, hundreds of prisoners will be released early as the first phase of the government’s expanded early-release programme. About 2,000 offenders—including domestic abusers and violent criminals—are slated for freedom in the first month, with a further 3,000 scheduled in stages over the next year, bringing the total to roughly 5,000 inmates. The scheme excludes those convicted of child-grooming gang offences, indecent assault and manslaughter (including the killers of police officer Andrew Harper). Releases will occur across dozens of prisons in England and Wales.

The Guardian

The expansion is enabled by the 2026 Sentencing Act, which permits ministers to lower the release point for certain prisoners from 40 percent of a fixed-term sentence to a third. The original early-release scheme was launched on September 10, 2024, four days after the government announced it, following a surge of 1,700 new incarcerations in the preceding three months. A prior Conservative-led initiative released 13,325 prisoners between October 17, 2023 and September 9, 2024. Prison numbers remain high: the Ministry of Justice reported a population of 87,499 on the latest Monday, up from 85,761 on June 29 —a rise of 1,738 (2 percent). The figure sits 1,022 below the record high of 88,521 recorded on September 6, 2024.

WalesOnline

• First-month releases: ? 2,000 offenders

The Guardian

• Planned releases over the next year: ? 3,000 additional inmates

The Guardian

• Cumulative releases under the scheme (to March 2026): 70,066 prisoners

WalesOnline

• Electronic-monitoring performance (watchdog report): 55 percent of GPS/radio-frequency tags and 60 percent of alcohol-monitoring tags were fitted on time; some offenders waited up to five months for a tag.

The Guardian

• Investment: £700 million earmarked for probation and community services, alongside a plan to build 14,000 new prison places.

The Guardian

While the ministry promotes an expanded electronic-monitoring system, a watchdog report found that only 55 percent of GPS tags and 60 percent of alcohol tags were fitted on schedule, with some offenders waiting up to five months. No independent data were provided on the current availability of hostel or council accommodation, leaving a gap in understanding how many released individuals will face homelessness.

The Guardian

• “We know that leaving prison homeless can put people on a path back into custody. It is vital that the whole system from prisons and probation to councils and community providers work together to give people a roof over their heads.” — Enver Solomon, the chief executive of the social justice charity Nacro

The Guardian

A second tranche of releases is expected to begin on October 13, 2026, when officials warn that the shortage of beds for ex-offenders could reach “critical levels.” The government has indicated that monitoring and housing arrangements will continue to be refined as the programme progresses.

The Guardian