Defence Secretary Wes Streeting was caught on a hot mic joking that the new Justice Secretary Alex Norris is “the enemy now” because “he wants to let them all out”. The clip, published by the news website Guido Fawkes, showed Streeting and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood laughing about the government’s early prisoner release scheme—a policy that has sparked anger from victims and opposition MPs. But behind the gaffe lies a stark reality: UK prisons are so full that the government has been forced to release inmates early to stop the system collapsing.
The early prisoner release scheme is exactly what it sounds like: prisoners are being freed before completing their sentences. The Labour government announced emergency measures shortly after coming to power in 2024, after the Prison Governors’ Association warned that jails were due to run out of space within days. Under those initial measures, tens of thousands of prisoners were released. Then, from September 2026, a new Sentencing Act began releasing hundreds more offenders. Unlike the earlier emergency releases, the new law includes no exemptions for prisoners convicted of serious crimes, domestic abuse, or terrorism—a decision that has alarmed victims' advocates.
“UK early prisoner release scheme explained: why prisons are overcrowded and ministers are freeing inmates early.”
Why has this happened? The UK’s prison system has been under severe strain for years. Under the previous Conservative government, the prison population grew while capacity failed to keep up. Courts handed down longer sentences, and the number of offenders recalled to prison for breaching licence conditions surged. By 2024, jails were at breaking point. The Labour government’s emergency measures were a direct response to that crisis, which it inherited. As Mahmood put it, the challenges facing the justice system stem from “the vandalism inflicted on our justice system by the last Conservative government.”
For UK readers, the practical impact is significant. Early releases mean that thousands of offenders are back on the streets sooner than expected. Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner have made a rare joint intervention, warning that the scheme will put abuse victims at risk. The new Sentencing Act has no carve-outs for domestic abusers or terrorists, meaning some of the most dangerous offenders could be freed early. The opposition, led by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, has called the policy “disgusting” and accused ministers of making light of a serious issue. Streeting and Mahmood have both apologised for the hot mic comments, stressing that the scheme is “an extremely serious issue.”
Q: How many prisoners have been released early? The initial emergency measures released tens of thousands of prisoners, while the new Sentencing Act, which came into force in September 2026, is releasing hundreds more offenders. Exact figures for the overall total are not provided in the sources.
Q: Who is exempt from early release? Under the earlier emergency measures, certain categories of prisoners were likely excluded, but under the new Sentencing Act there are no exemptions—meaning prisoners convicted of serious crimes, domestic abuse, and terrorism can be released early. This has alarmed victims’ commissioners.
Q: Why did the hot mic incident cause such a backlash? Streeting and Mahmood were heard joking about the scheme, which critics say trivialises a policy that affects public safety. Victims and opposition MPs argued that releasing serious offenders early is “no laughing matter,” especially given warnings that the scheme endangers abuse victims. Both ministers later apologised, saying there was “no ill intent.”
What happens next? The government is continuing to implement the early release programme under the new Sentencing Act. Victims’ commissioners have urged ministers to reconsider the lack of exemptions, and the controversy over the hot mic comments may increase political pressure to tighten the rules. However, with prisons still dangerously overcrowded, the government faces a difficult balancing act between public safety and keeping the justice system functioning.
