Why have hundreds of prisoners been released in England and Wales? | BBC News

A BBC News report explains why hundreds of prisoners across England and Wales were due to be released on 1 October under a new UK government scheme. The release is described as the start of a programme that is set to free thousands of prisoners over several months. Under the scheme, offenders serving sentences of up to 19 months are now eligible for release after serving a third of their term. The government says the aim is to free up prison space, while victims have raised questions about how they will be protected.

• Hundreds of prisoners in England and Wales were due to be released on 1 October
• The scheme is set to release thousands of prisoners over several months
• Offenders serving sentences of up to 19 months can be released after a third of their term
• The government says the aim is to free up prison space; victims question how they will be protected

Hundreds of prisoners across England and Wales were to be released on 1 October under a new scheme by the UK government. And it's just the start of the scheme, which is set to see thousands of prisoners released over several months. Offenders serving sentences of up to 19 months are now eligible for release after a third of their term. While the government says the scheme is designed to free up prison space, victims have questioned how they will be protected. Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news #Prisons #Crime #BBCNews