Hundreds of prisoners being let out today as early release scheme starts

Hundreds of prisoners across England and Wales are being released early today under a new phased scheme aimed at freeing up prison space. Offenders serving sentences of up to 19 months become eligible for release after serving a third of their term. The first round includes people convicted of fraud, domestic abuse, and coercive control. More serious offenders will face restriction zones to govern their movements, and the government says it plans a record rollout of ankle monitors. Estimates point to about 4,500 releases overall as the program expands. Convictions for rape, grooming, child sex offences, and unlawful killing are excluded from eligibility.