- A record 52,716 offenders in England and Wales were recalled to prison in the year to June after breaching their licence terms, representing a 27 per cent increase on the previous year.
- Ministry of Justice statistics show the surge coincided with emergency measures that saw 79,274 inmates released early under the SDS40 scheme between September 2024 and June 2026.
- Policy changes allowing offenders to be recalled multiple times for 56-day periods rather than held until the end of their sentence also contributed to the high number of recalls.
- The emergency SDS40 early release initiative was replaced on 1 October by a permanent scheme under the Sentencing Act 2026.
- The Government defended the measures, stating decisive action was necessary to protect the public and prevent the total collapse of the prison system.
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