The first wave of the government's latest early-release programme has begun, with approximately 700 prisoners released from jails across England and Wales in a move designed to ease mounting pressure on an overcrowded prison system.

The releases mark the implementation of changes introduced under the Sentencing Act 2026, which altered automatic release dates for some offenders serving standard determinate sentences. The legislation came into force on 1 October and is intended to create additional capacity within prisons that have been operating under severe strain.

According to reports, the government expects nearly 5,000 prisoners to be released in stages over the coming year as part of the wider programme. Ministers argue the measures are necessary to prevent the prison estate from reaching breaking point, while maintaining that offenders released early will remain subject to licence conditions and monitoring requirements.

However, the policy has already attracted criticism from victims' groups, probation staff and opposition politicians, who have raised concerns about public safety, supervision arrangements and the ability of support services to cope with the increased number of offenders returning to the community.

Questions have also emerged over the use of electronic tagging. Although the government has promoted monitoring as a key safeguard, Justice Secretary Alex Norris recently acknowledged that officials could not yet confirm how many of the first 700 prisoners released had been fitted with electronic tags. Reports have highlighted longstanding delays within the tagging system and concerns about enforcement capacity.

Probation officers and charities have additionally warned that some prisoners may leave custody without secure accommodation or sufficient support, increasing the risk of licence breaches and reoffending. Several newly released inmates told reporters they faced uncertainty about housing and employment upon release.

The government insists that the scheme excludes certain categories of the most serious offenders and says those released will remain subject to what ministers describe as stringent supervision measures

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