There has been a large rise in the number of offenders being recalled to prisons in England and Wales having been released on licence, new government figures show.
There were 51,419 licence recalls in the year ending March 2026, up from 40,259 in the previous year – a 28% increase.
Although recalls in January to March were slightly lower than the previous three-month period, they remain well above historical levels.
The figures follow government schemes to release a number of offenders early in an effort to ease prison overcrowding.
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) said offenders released on licence face strict conditions “and can be hauled back to prison if they break these rules”.
Cassia Rowland, from the Institute for Government think tank, said most recalls are for breaches of licence conditions, such as missed appointments, rather than offenders committing further offences or posing a serious risk to the public.
“The probation service is overwhelmed, with high caseloads and lots of vacancies putting often inexperienced staff under huge pressure,” she said.
