The Ministry of Justice has quietly extended its controversial early release scheme for prisoners, The Independent can reveal, as Britain's prison system teeters on the brink of capacity.
Originally intended as a temporary measure to ease pressure on overcrowded jails, the programme has now been extended until at least March 2025, raising alarm among prison staff and victims' groups about potential risks to public safety.
A System at Breaking Point
Prison officers are reporting dangerously low staffing levels and increasingly violent conditions within facilities. "We're firefighting constantly," one officer revealed anonymously. "The early releases aren't about rehabilitation - they're about making space for the next wave coming through the doors."
The scheme allows certain inmates to be released up to 70 days early, though serious offenders including those convicted of sexual, violent, or terrorist crimes remain excluded.
Rehabilitation or Revolving Door?
Critics argue the policy represents a fundamental failure in long-term planning for the justice system. With prison places effectively capped and sentencing policies unchanged, the government appears trapped in a cycle of emergency measures.
"This isn't a strategy, it's desperation," said a senior prison service source. "We're releasing people without adequate support systems, then wondering why reoffending rates remain stubbornly high."
What This Means for Communities
The extension raises difficult questions about balancing prison capacity against community safety. While the government insists rigorous risk assessments protect the public, frontline workers express concerns about the practical implementation.
Prison officers' unions warn that stretched resources mean proper rehabilitation programmes are being compromised, potentially undermining the very purpose of the early release initiative.
As one officer starkly put it: "We're not preparing people for release - we're just opening the gates."
