Large rise in offenders sent back to prison, figures reveal
Summary
The number of offenders sent back to prison in England and Wales after being released early on licence has risen by 28% in one year, according to government data. This increase follows government schemes to release prisoners early to reduce overcrowding, but many offenders are recalled for breaking licence rules rather than committing new crimes. A new early release scheme planned for September 2026 has been paused by the new Prime Minister.Key Facts
- Licence recalls in England and Wales rose from 40,259 to 51,419 in the year ending March 2026, a 28% increase.
- Most recalls occur because offenders break licence conditions like missing appointments, not from new serious crimes.
- The probation service has high workloads and staff shortages, making it harder to support released offenders.
- The government started an early release scheme in September 2024, allowing some prisoners to leave after serving 40% of their sentence.
- By March 2026, 70,066 people were released under this early release scheme.
- Prison overcrowding remains a problem, with prisons at 97% capacity and 86,267 people incarcerated as of July 2026.
- A planned new early release scheme under the Sentencing Act, allowing release after serving one-third of a sentence, was paused by Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
- Offenders face challenges like addiction, poor mental health, and unstable housing making compliance difficult.
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