𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

A record number of criminals were recalled to prison as Labour let out more than 70,000 inmates early to prevent overcrowding behind bars.

Some 51,419 prisoners were locked up again in the year to March after breaching the terms of their licence, new figures show.

This is up 28% from 40,259 in the previous 12 months and is the highest number on record.

The figures also show 70,066 inmates have been freed early since September 2024, when the Government brought in emergency measures in a bid to tackle the overcrowding crisis.

And alarmingly for prison chiefs, the number of prisoners being recalled (13,193) between January and March surpassed the number being released early (12,977).

It is believed to be the first time this has happened.

Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy said: “There remain real and serious problems throughout our criminal justice system, particularly in prisons, but Labour are handling it in the worst possible way.

“Instead of doing the hard work of court reform and prison building, Labour have reached for the easiest tools possible: letting out rapists, paedophiles and serious criminals early, as well as scrapping jury trials.

“Labour came to government without a plan, and it shows in their lack of any real solutions for criminal justice.

“Prison works – by punishing, by deterring and by keeping dangerous criminals away from the public. Serious violent and sexual offenders must be banned from being let out under Labour’s disastrous early release scheme.”

Other figures also published on Thursday show there were 14 escapes from prisons in England and Wales in 2025-26, up from 12 the previous year and the highest annual total since 16 in 2019-20.

All of the escapes were from escorts, with the majority (11) in transport operated by contractors.

Of the 14 escapees, four were still at large after 30 days – again, the highest number since 2019-20, when eight were still at large after this time period.

Some 192 prisoners were released in error in 2025-26, down from 312 in 2024-25, which was the highest number since current data began in 2011-12.

A total of 1,497 drone incidents were recorded at prisons in England and Wales in the year to 2025-26, the second-highest annual number since data began in 2020-21.

The figure is down from a peak of 1,712 in 2024-25.