Prisoners freed early in England and Wales risk living on the streets, say probation officers

Prisoners are supposed to be found accommodation before their release but one probation source said the ‘handful’ of hostel places were full. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/EPA

Hundreds of prisoners are due to be released early from jail on Thursday amid warnings that many will have nowhere to live and the probation system will struggle to monitor them.

About 2,000 criminals including domestic abusers and violent offenders are to be freed over the next month, with another 3,000 in stages over the next year to ease overcrowding. The number was reduced from 6,000 after an intervention by the prime minister, Andy Burnham.