Prisoners freed early are returning to jail at rapid rate, governors tell BBC

Prisoners released early under England and Wales’ 2024 early-release scheme are returning to custody at an unprecedented rate, senior prison governors have warned, as overcrowding pushes the prison system to breaking point.

Governors told the BBC that many offenders freed under the temporary measure—introduced to ease severe prison overcrowding—are being recalled within months for reoffending or breaching licence conditions. One governor in the Midlands described the pattern as a “revolving door,” with the same individuals repeatedly cycling through release and recall.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that some of the most serious offenders, including those convicted of unlawful killing, will be excluded from the next phase of early releases, which is set to begin in October. The move follows public outrage after it emerged that individuals convicted in the 2019 killing of PC Andrew Harper could have been eligible under the scheme. Harper, a newlywed police officer, died after being dragged by a stolen quad bike in Berkshire.

As of March 2024, more than 70,000 prisoners had been released early under the scheme, but the prison population remains dangerously high at nearly 87,000 — with just over 2,000 spaces left. The government has pledged to create additional capacity by deporting foreign national offenders and releasing some prisoners serving indeterminate sentences, though these steps are unlikely to free up meaningful space before the October release wave.

Recall rates have surged by 28% in the past year, with 51,419 licence recalls recorded in the 12 months ending March 2024, up from 40,259 the previous year. Although recalls dipped slightly in the first quarter of 2024, they remain far above historical levels. One northern England governor warned that without urgent action, “the criminal justice system will grind to a halt,” describing the situation as unsustainable.

Overcrowding has also worsened gang tensions within prisons, as inmates from rival regions are housed together due to limited space. Another governor raised concerns about double-celling in single-occupancy cells, which are already small and unsanitary, warning this could exacerbate health and safety risks and contribute to disease outbreaks.

The Prison Governors Association (PGA) said governors had not been consulted on the government’s latest plans, raising fears about operational feasibility and prisoner safety. A 2024 report by the National Audit Office found that 23,000 prison places—nearly a quarter of the total—do not meet fire safety standards.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Less than one in seven prisoners in custody are on recall, and it is a vital tool to keep the public safe. This government inherited prisons in crisis but we are fixing this, reforming the length of time people spend on recall to reduce the prison population, building 14,000 new places, launching the biggest ever expansion of tagging, and giving victims a say in the strict licence conditions of offenders.”

Justice Secretary will give further details on how many offenders will be excluded from the next early release phase during a statement to Parliament.

#PrisonOvercrowding #EarlyReleaseScheme #RecallRates #AndyBurnham #PrisonGovernors #JusticeReform #PCAndrewHarper #EnglandWalesPrisons