What's behind having to release some prisoners early?
The UK government is implementing an early release scheme for prisoners to address a severe capacity crisis in England and Wales. While some offenders are excluded from the policy, the measure aims to prevent the prison population from exceeding available space by 2032.
Why it matters
This policy shift reflects the broader systemic challenges of prison overcrowding and the political difficulty of balancing public safety with infrastructure limitations.
By Ben Chu and Lucy Gilder , BBC Verify Published 25 minutes ago The government has changed its plan to release thousands of offenders in England and Wales well before the end of their sentences in an attempt to make space in prisons.
People sentenced for rape, serious child sex and grooming offences will now not be eligible for early release from October.
But some prisoners who are not excluded could be freed after serving a third of their total custodial sentence rather than after 40% or 50% of their term.
This is not the first time a government - Conservative or Labour - has had to release prisoners early to make space in England and Wales' overcrowded prisons.
BBC Verify has looked at the reasons why ministers feel the need to resort to these measures.
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