More prisoners in England and Wales are recalled than released for first time

In the first quarter of twenty twenty-six, England and Wales recorded a historic first: more prisoners were recalled to prison for breaching their licence conditions than were released. The Guardian reports, citing Ministry of Justice data, that thirteen thousand one hundred ninety-three people were returned while twelve thousand nine hundred seventy-seven were released—a thirty-one percent increase in recalls year-on-year. The surge is adding pressure to already-stretched prison capacity.

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