Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Robyn Vinter North of England correspondent

‘Prisons need reform’: service lets down those who need help, freed inmates say

Two men walk along a street, one with two plastic bags of belongings over his shoulders.
Some offenders were released early on licence as part of government scheme designed to free up space in overcrowded prisons. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/EPA

For 1,700 prisoners, the day they had been waiting for came sooner than hoped for on Tuesday, when they were set free as part of the government’s early release programme.

The measures, designed to free up space in overcrowded English and Welsh prisons, mean some offenders were released on licence after serving 40% of their sentences.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.