‘Inevitable some will get recalled’: concern as 1,700 prisoners released early

Lack of rehabilitation means many freed inmates in England and Wales will end up homeless and offending again, warn experts

• Police left to deal with fallout' of poorly planned early release of 1,700 prisoners

For 1,700 prisoners, the day they had been waiting for came sooner than hoped for on Tuesday, when they were set free as part of the government's early release programme.

The measures, designed to free up space in overcrowded English and Welsh prisons, mean some offenders were released on licence after serving 40% of their sentences.