More than 70,000 prisoners freed under Labour’s early release scheme – as fury mounts over plans to let 5,000 more out

MORE than 70,000 prisoners have been let out of jail under Labour’s early release scheme to tackle overcrowding, new figures have revealed. Some 70,066 inmates in England and Wales were freed as of the end of March 2026, according to data published by the Ministry of Justice. PM Andy Burnham has paused plans to free around 5,000 prisoners early due to backlash Credit: Reuters People seen outside HM Prison Brixton in London after thousands were released in 2024 (stock) Credit: Jeff Moore/PA Wire The scheme was initially launched as an emergency measure on September 10 2024, just days after the prison population reached a record high of 88,521. It allows eligible prisoners to be released after serving only 40 per cent of their fixed-term sentence, rather than the usual 50 per cent. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! It comes after Labour were blasted over plans to free around 5,000 prisoners early and made a u-turn following the backlash. PM Andy Burnham has paused the early release scheme due to start in September amid fury that vile lags such as two who killed PC Andrew Harper could go free. Lissie Harper – who married the officer one month before he was dragged by a car – slammed Labour after it transpired that his two killers would be eligible. A number of victims of child sex grooming gangs have also voiced their opposition to the scheme after being told their abusers would benefit from early release. The current early release scheme – introduced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in her previous role as justice secretary – replaced a separate policy introduced by the previous Conservative government. Under this separate process, 13,325 prisoners in England and Wales were freed early between October 2023 and September 2024. Most read in The Sun Meanwhile, some 51,419 prisoners were recalled to jail in the year to March 2026 after breaching the terms of their licence, MoJ figures revealed. This is up 28 per cent from 40,259 in the previous 12 months and is the highest number since current data began in 2015. The current early release scheme was introduced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in her previous role as justice secretary Credit: Getty Lissie Harper, pictured with Andrew Harper, had branded the early release plans ‘deplorable’ The ongoing early release of certain types of prisoner is one of a number of recent policies that is “likely” to have contributed to the rise in recalls, the MoJ said. But despite calls to scrap the scheme completely, Labour’s new plans are likely to go ahead later. Probation and jail staff could have a veto on who is freed under new plans. Another option would be to exclude rapists and killers — but it is feared that would not create enough space. Labour has been accused of handling prison capacity constraints “in the worst possible way”, blasted the shadow justice secretary. Responding to Thursday’s prisons statistics from the Ministry of Justice, Conservative Nick Timothy said: “There remain real and serious problems throughout our criminal justice system, particularly in prisons, but Labour are handling it in the worst possible way. “Instead of doing the hard work of court reform and prison building, “Labour have reached for the easiest tools possible – letting out rapists, paedophiles and serious criminals early, as well as scrapping jury trials. “Labour came to Government without a plan and it shows in their lack of any real solutions for criminal justice. “Prison works – by punishing, by deterring and by keeping dangerous criminals away from the public. “Serious violent and sexual offenders must be banned from being let out under Labour’s disastrous early release scheme.” A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Protecting the public will always be our top priority. “That’s why we took the decisive action needed to prevent the total collapse of our prison system after just 500 net prison places were added and 23 prisons closed in the 14 years before July 2024 – risking a breakdown of law and order. “Now we’re making sure it never happens again. “We’ve already delivered 3,200 prison places as part of the largest prison building programme in over a century, alongside a £700 million investment in probation to deliver tougher community punishment as well as record investment for victim services to ensure we can always lock up dangerous criminals and protect the public.”