Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Jessica Murray Social affairs correspondent

More prisoners in England and Wales are recalled than released for first time

Prison England Wales MoJ
A man leaves HM Prison Liverpool carrying a large holdall, face obscured by hood of his blue jacket.
A man leaves HM Prison Liverpool. The rise in the recall rate since the first quarter of 2025 is probably due in part to early release schemes, the MoJ says. Photograph: PA Images/Alamy

More people were recalled to prison than were released during the first three months of 2026, the first time on record the “recall rate” has surpassed 100% in England and Wales.

Between January and March 2026, 12,977 people were released from prison while 13,193 people were returned to prison for breaching their licence conditions, up 31% from last year, new Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data showed.

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
Dua Lipa Goes Viral After Being Caught Taking a Mouthful of a Hot Dog Sandwich During Yankees Game
Dua Lipa's appearance at Yankee Stadium with Callum Turner became a social media talking point after cameras captured the singer eating a hot dog during the Yankees' playoff game.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Kourtney Kardashian Explains Why She Called Jennifer Lawrence 'F*** That Bitch' After 'Annoying' Remark
Kourtney Kardashian revisited her angry response to Jennifer Lawrence's criticism, explaining that the remarks came during a difficult period before a private apology helped ease the tension.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
53 Animals Who Never Planned To Be Funny, As Shared By This Facebook Page
These animals have flawless comic timing and absolutely no idea. Luckily, someone always had a camera ready.
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Ben Affleck banned from Instagram twice
Hollywood actor Ben Affleck has revealed he was banned from Instagram twice for "impersonating" himself - admitting he only wanted an account to see what his kids were up to online.
BANG Premier
BANG Premier
Woman finds a white purse at a thrift store. Then she unzips a small pocket and realizes it isn’t empty: ‘This is crazy’
That was a surprise!
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
Pop Star Britney Spears Reportedly Branded 'Clueless' by Critics Over Recent Dollywood Ride Video
Britney Spears shared footage from a family visit to Dollywood, praising the Tennessee attraction, while some online viewers criticised the language heard during a spinning-ride video.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play