About 5,500 prisoners to be released early in England and Wales

HMP Wandsworth in London. Prisoners who do not fall into exempt categories will be released after they have served 40% of their sentences. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

About 5,500 offenders will be released early from prison as part of a temporary scheme to “avert disaster”, the justice secretary has said.

It is the first time the government has provided a figure for the number of prisoners who will be released in England and Wales as part of emergency measures to prevent the prison system from reaching the point of collapse.