Hundreds more inmates set for release under second phase of early-release program
Second tranche of prisoners will include those serving up to two and a half years for crimes.
Source: BBC News Top · October 13, 2026 at 3:02 AM · AI-assisted report
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UK, 13 OCTOBER 2026 —
UK to release 650 more prisoners early as probation officers brace for strike vote amid court reforms
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The UK government will release around 650 prisoners early on Tuesday in the second phase of its emergency scheme to reduce overcrowded jails, expanding eligibility to include offenders serving up to two and a half years for crimes—now freed after serving just a third of their sentences instead of half.
The move comes as the government pushes ahead with sweeping criminal justice reforms, even as probation officers prepare to vote on strike action over pay disputes and mounting workloads, threatening to further strain the system tasked with monitoring early releases.
The second wave of early releases follows the October 1 rollout, when 700 prisoners serving less than 19 months were freed under the same reduced-sentence rule. Tuesday’s batch marks the start of a phased expansion, culminating in June 2027 with the release of prisoners serving more than 12 years. Under the scheme, offenders typically face electronic tagging and other monitoring conditions for the remaining two-thirds of their sentences.
The government’s plan to overhaul criminal courts—revised last week after abandoning its most contentious proposal—now includes scrapping jury trials for complex fraud cases and keeping 5,500 additional trials in lower magistrates’ courts by ending defendants’ right to demand a jury.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has pledged £700 million to recruit 1,300 extra probation officers and deploy AI tools to ease monitoring burdens, though the offer of a 5% pay rise—below the 12% demanded by the National Association of Probation Officers (Napo)—has sparked dissent.
Napo warned the early releases are placing "enormous strain" on its members, who must supervise offenders in the community. On Tuesday, probation officers will vote on whether to strike, with Napo accusing the government of failing to address workload pressures stemming from a decade of budget cuts. The MoJ insists its pay offer is fair, citing acceptance by two other unions, while citing the £700 million investment as evidence of its commitment to reform.
The government’s court reforms also include expanding "blitz" or "short trial" courts, where grouping similar cases accelerates proceedings. A pilot at London’s Old Bailey halved a backlog of 500 assault cases against emergency workers over the summer. Additionally, the MoJ has ordered trials for virtual hearings directly from police cells, adopting over 150 of Sir Brian Leveson’s recommendations to modernise the justice system.
However, it rejected Leveson’s advice to retain a 12-month sentencing limit for volunteer magistrates, instead granting them the power to jail offenders for up to two years—a change aimed at reducing Crown Court backlogs.
The probation officers’ strike vote, scheduled for next week, looms as a critical test of the government’s ability to balance prison population relief with the operational capacity of the justice system. With the second phase of early releases underway and court reforms advancing, the coming weeks will determine whether the UK can avoid further disruptions to its already strained criminal justice framework.
Related: Ministry of Justice (MoJ) · UK