In a development that has reignited fierce debate over the United Kingdom’s approach to criminal justice and prison overcrowding, a man who was released early from prison under Labour’s emergency early release scheme has been charged with murder in London. The incident, widely reported by major outlets including ITV News, The Times, and the Evening Standard, marks the most serious alleged offence to date by a person freed under the controversial programme.
The early release scheme, implemented in September 2024 by then-Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, was introduced as a response to a prison system teetering on the brink of collapse. At the time, the male prison estate had only about 100 spaces left, prompting urgent action. The plan allowed certain inmates to be released after serving just 40% of their fixed-term sentences—down from the previous 50% threshold. The hope was to free up space for more dangerous offenders and keep the justice system functioning.
According to Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data cited by The Daily Mail and The Telegraph, more than 38,000 prisoners were released early under the scheme between September 2024 and June 2025, averaging 129 a day. Of these, over 1,000 were serving sentences longer than a decade, including 346 with sentences of 14 years or more. Additionally, roughly 28.6% of those released had been serving sentences of six months or less, while another 13.8% were serving between six and twelve months. The scheme specifically excluded prisoners convicted of terrorism, sexual offences, domestic abuse, and violent crimes carrying sentences over four years, but did allow for earlier release of those convicted of less severe violent offences, including manslaughter.
The man now charged with murder had previously been convicted of knife offences and was released early to help address overcrowding. Due to legal restrictions, his identity has not been made public. His case is expected to trigger a serious further offence review, as reported by The Times and The Evening Standard, to determine if anything could have been done differently before his release. The Ministry of Justice has stated, “Public protection is our number one priority. That is why offenders out on licence face strict conditions such as exclusion zones and being tagged, and they can be brought back to prison if they break these rules.”
The early release programme has not been without consequence. The number of ex-prisoners recalled to custody has risen sharply. Between April and June 2025 alone, more than 11,000 people were recalled to prison, a 13% increase compared to the same period in 2024 and nearly double the figure from 2023, according to MoJ figures. The majority of these recalls were for non-compliance with licence conditions, but 22% involved charges of further offending. In total, from January to June 2025, over 21,000 recalls were recorded, reflecting a 36% year-on-year rise.
Ministry of Justice analysts have linked this spike in recalls directly to the early release scheme. A report by the Institute for Government, referenced by The Evening Standard, warned that further early release measures might be necessary to prevent another capacity crisis, describing the justice system as being in a “slow-motion collapse.” The total prison population in England and Wales stood at 87,465 as of September 30, 2025—up 1% from the previous year but still below the February 2024 peak of 88,439.
The scheme has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, representing the Conservative Party, was blunt in his assessment: “Under this Government crime pays. Already 38,000 offenders have been released early—and soon tens of thousands will avoid prison altogether. Criminals will be licking their lips, free to offend and wreck our communities all over again.” He has called for tougher measures, including the deportation of foreign nationals held in UK prisons and expanded court hours to reduce the number of people held on remand.
Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Jess Brown-Fuller also weighed in, telling ITV News: “Over the last few weeks, the MoJ has gone from one scandal to another, putting people across the country in danger. They must get a grip before more lives are lost. The Conservatives plunged our prisons into crisis, but Labour has been burying its head in the sand. Our local communities deserve to trust that they will be protected by the criminal justice system. Now more than ever, it’s clear we need a sustainable solution to the prisons’ overcrowding crisis—one that is focused on tackling reoffending and cutting the courts backlog to reduce the number of people in prison on remand.”
Labour has defended its actions by pointing to the dire state of the prison system it inherited. Sir Keir Starmer, the party’s leader, argued, “We have to release people early because otherwise we’ll have an absolute crisis in our prisons.” Shabana Mahmood, who has since moved to the Home Office, previously told broadcasters, “It was the only option left on the table because the alternative would have seen the total collapse of the criminal justice system in this country.” She emphasized that the government tried to “implement this change in a way that maximises public protection.”
The early release scheme is now overseen by Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy. The government insists it is taking steps to ensure public safety and prevent future crises. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson told ITV News, “This government inherited a prisons crisis, days away from running out of space which would have brought the justice system to a standstill, stopped the police from being able to make arrests and led to unchecked criminality on our streets. Public safety will always be our top priority, and we are building 14,000 more prison places to keep dangerous offenders locked up.” Since July 2024, 2,500 new prison places have opened, and the government claims it is reforming sentencing to reduce reoffending and ensure that jails never again run out of space.
Despite these assurances, the public and political fallout from the murder charge is far from over. A serious further offence review is expected to scrutinize the circumstances of the man’s release and whether systemic failures played a role. Meanwhile, the debate over how best to balance public safety, prisoner rehabilitation, and the realities of a stretched prison system continues to rage.
With the criminal justice system under the microscope and the government promising reforms, the coming months will reveal whether the early release scheme was a necessary emergency measure—or a misstep with tragic consequences.
