Early release scheme frees hundreds more prisoners today

Available for over a year

About 650 more offenders will leave jails in England and Wales early on Tuesday in the latest phase of the government's plan to tackle the prison population crisis. The group will include offenders serving up to two and a half years for crimes. Under the new rules, they are leaving jail after serving a third of their sentence behind bars, rather than half. The scheme's second stage begins the process of releasing batches of offenders serving increasingly long sentences, culminating next June with those serving more than 12 years. Today's Anna Foster hears more from Home and Legal Correspondent Dominic Casciani. Image Credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images