Early Release Scheme for Serious Offenders
Thousands of rapists, killers, and sex offenders are set to be released early from prison under a new plan by Justice Secretary David Lammy. The scheme, which begins in September 2026, aims to alleviate severe overcrowding in UK prisons. A legal change will allow offenders convicted of the most serious crimes to be freed after serving just half their sentence, down from the current two-thirds requirement.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the first 700 prisoners will be released in September, with similar numbers freed each month for the following nine months. In total, between 5,000 and 7,000 inmates could be released as the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) rolls out the system.
Details of the Plan
The new rules apply to sex offenders, killers convicted of manslaughter, those guilty of grievous bodily harm (GBH), and rapists. For example, a rapist sentenced to 15 years could walk free after seven and a half years, simply for good behavior behind bars. Meanwhile, burglars, thieves, and assault offenders will be released after serving just one-third of their sentence, reduced from the current 40%.
Released prisoners will typically be fitted with GPS tags and subject to conditions such as curfews and location-based restrictions. The MoJ has emphasized that the scheme is necessary to prevent the complete breakdown of the criminal justice system.
Political Backlash
The plan has drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures. Nick Timothy, the Shadow Justice Secretary, called the scheme "reckless" and an "insult to victims and a threat to the public." He stated, "Killers and rapists, including the evil rape gang perpetrators, should remain behind bars where they belong but Labour want to let them back on the street."
An MoJ spokesman defended the policy: "Without this decisive action, prisons would have run out of space entirely, making it impossible for convicted offenders to be sent to prison and risking the complete breakdown of the criminal justice system, putting the public at untold risk." The spokesman added that the government is investing £700 million into probation services and recruiting 1,300 additional probation officers this year to strengthen community supervision.
Previous Controversies
The last early-release scheme sparked public outrage when released offenders were filmed celebrating with champagne and flash cars. The new plan aims to avoid similar scenes by imposing strict tagging and monitoring conditions.
