Prisoners' Release

This Government inherited prisons days from collapse with the previous government only adding just 500 net places in 14 years. We had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe. Without the changes this government made, courts would have had to halt trials and the police cancel arrests, undermining public safety and leading to a disastrous impact on public confidence in the Criminal Justice System.

The Lord Chancellor and Prime Minister delayed the implementation of the Progression Model to ensure that two crucial things were incorporated: the need to put victims at the heart of our work while ensuring we never run out of space to lock up the most dangerous criminals, a scenario which would represent the worst possible outcome for victims.

The Government carefully considered concerns raised by victims, survivors, parliamentarians and the wider public and acted on those concerns. As a result, offenders convicted of unlawful killing offence such as manslaughter, causing death by dangerous driving, as well as further historic child sex offences, will now be excluded, on top of rape and serious child sex offences. A full list of exclusions can be found here: Sentencing Act 2026 offence exclusions - GOV.UK.

These exclusions are in addition to the existing exclusion of more than 18,000 offenders serving more serious sentences.