Prisoners could be let out 60 days early to relieve crowded jails in England and Wales

‘Certain low-level offenders’ could be released early, subject to conditions such as electronic tagging, the justice secretary said. Photograph: PA Images/Alamy

Prisoners could be released from jail two months early, the justice secretary has announced, as the pressure on overcrowded prisons intensifies.

In a written ministerial statement, Alex Chalk said prisons in England and Wales would have licence to release “certain low-level offenders” up to 35 days before their sentence was due to end. Officials said the statement would also allow the UK government to extend early release to up to 60 days if necessary in the future.