Large rise in offenders sent back to prison, figures reveal
Licence recalls in England and Wales rose 28% to 51,419 in the year to March 2026, according to Ministry of Justice figures. The increase is linked to early release schemes introduced in 2024, which have been paused by the new government amid concerns from victims' groups. Prison capacity remains near full, with 86,267 inmates and plans for additional prison places announced.
- ▪The number of licence recalls grew from 40,259 to 51,419, a 28% increase, in the year ending March 2026.
- ▪Most recalls were for non‑compliance such as missed appointments, rather than new offences.
- ▪An early release scheme launched in September 2024 saw 70,066 prisoners released early and is cited as a factor in the rise of recalls.
- ▪The scheme was paused by Prime Minister Andy Burnham following criticism, while the prison estate was reported at 97% capacity.
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| Publication time | Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:13:51 GMT |
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Large rise in offenders sent back to prison, figures revealByTom Edgington and Harriet AgerholmBBC VerifyPublished15 minutes agoThere has been a large rise in the number of offenders being recalled to prisons in England and Wales having been released on licence, new government figures show.There were 51,419 licence recalls in the year ending March 2026, up from 40,259 in the previous year - a 28% increase.Although recalls in January to March were slightly lower than the previous three-month period, they remain well above historical levels.The figures follow government schemes to release a number of offenders early in an effort to ease prison overcrowding.The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) said offenders released on licence face strict conditions "and can be hauled back to prison if they break…
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