1,100 more prisoners released early amid overcrowding crisis

Eleven hundred prisoners are being released early – as part of the Government’s emergency scheme to ease the overcrowding crisis in jails across England and Wales.

The Prime Minister said he “shared public anger” at the sight of inmates walking free but said there was “no choice”.

A wholescale review of sentencing – to be led by the former Conservative Justice secretary David Gauke – was also announced today – part of a raft of measures to avoid what the government said could be “complete paralysis” of the entire legal system.