By Salma El-Sakka
An unprecedented number of offenders in England and Wales have been returned to custody, coinciding with early release measures introduced to reduce severe prison overcrowding.
Recalls Reach Record High
According to Ministry of Justice statistics released on Thursday, 52,716 people were recommitted to jail in the year to June after breaching licence conditions. This represents a 27 per cent increase from the 41,518 recalls recorded in the previous year and is the highest 12-month total since current data tracking began in 2015.
Early Release Figures
The MoJ also reported that 79,274 prisoners were discharged early between September 2024 and June 2026 under the SDS40 scheme, which reduced the proportion of sentences that eligible inmates must serve in custody from 50 per cent to 40 per cent.
Policy Changes and Impact
Recalls began to decline in early 2026, likely reflecting a statutory amendment that restricts how often certain offenders can be recalled within a three-month period. The MoJ said the rise in recalls was also likely influenced by policy changes that result in most offenders being returned to custody for 56 days before release again, rather than being held until the end of their sentence, allowing multiple recalls during the same term.
Government Response
The SDS40 scheme replaced a previous Conservative government programme that freed 13,325 prisoners between October 2023 and September 2024. Emergency measures were replaced by a permanent early release scheme from 1 October under the Sentencing Act 2026. The government said it took "decisive action" to prevent the "total collapse of our prison system." Another 650 prisoners serving sentences of more than 882 days but fewer than 1,163 days are due to be freed early on 10 November as the latest phase of the overcrowding plan takes effect.
