Hundreds more criminals will be released in the third wave of Labour’s early release scheme today.
Around 650 offenders who are serving sentences of less than three years and two months will be freed.
They join the thousands of criminals who have been released from jail since the scheme began on October 1.
Criminals released in this wave include people convicted of affray, which has a maximum sentence of three years, burglary and fraud.
Some violent offenders convicted of wounding, grievous bodily harm with intent or lower-end firearm charges could be released.
Some 5,000 prisoners are scheduled to be released in stages over the next year, down from 6,000, after ministers intervened to exempt rapists and the most serious child sex offenders.
Earlier this year, Labour implemented the early release scheme in an effort to ease Britain’s prison crisis.
Some violent offenders convicted of wounding, grievous bodily harm with intent or lower-end firearm charges could be released.
Some 5,000 prisoners are scheduled to be released in stages over the next year, down from 6,000, after ministers intervened to exempt rapists and the most serious child sex offenders.
Earlier this year, Labour implemented the early release scheme in an effort to ease Britain’s prison crisis.
The rules do not apply to rapists, the most serious child sex offenders, criminals guilty of manslaughter, terrorists and murderers serving life sentences.
Andy Burnham exempted those guilty of manslaughter after it was revealed the killers of Pc Andrew Harper may have been freed.
Inmates cheered and punched the air as they were released early during the second phase last month.
And David Elliott, 50, who was released from HMP Brixton in the first wave, told GB News he was likely to steal again.
“I’m 50,” he said. “I’ve been in and out of jail all my life. I’ve got 360 convictions… I’ve got an addiction to stealing.”
When asked what he was planning to do now, Elliot responded: “I’m gonna go stealing again… Whatever I get, whatever I get.”
Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s Home Affairs spokesman, blamed previous Tory and Labour Governments for Britain’s crumbling prison system.
He said: “Every single prisoner released today is an indictment of successive Tory and Labour ministers.
“They failed to build more prison places whilst throwing the door open to millions of people to come to our country.
“Now the public is paying the price. 5,000 prisoners – many of whom are dangerous – will be free to walk our streets and terrify their victims without serving their sentences.”
The prison population of England and Wales was 86,982 on Monday, according to Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data, up from 86,883 last week.
There is a presumption that all criminals freed early will be fitted with GPS tags by contractor Serco, Government officials said.
And the Ministry of Justice has previously said the most serious offenders would face the “toughest supervision in British history” once released.
But the Government has not published figures for the rate of recall of prisoners to jail for breaching their licence conditions.