New figures published today show a 42% increase in prison recalls

Between July and September 2024, 14,920 people were released from prison, and 9,975 were recalled for breaching their licence conditions. This represents a 42% increase in recalls compared to the same quarter in 2023. For every 100 people released in the period, 67 people were recalled to prison.

The MoJ statistics show that 24% of recalls involved reoffending. The rest were people who breached their licence conditions for reasons such as failing to stay off alcohol or drugs, missing curfews and failing to attend appointments with Probation Officers.

The period mostly covers the run-up to the Government’s new early release scheme, which started on 10 September 2024 and shows the huge pressures on the system that incoming ministers had to deal with. 

Analysis of MoJ data from Pact shows that there has been a steady increase in these ‘recall rates’ over the last 12 years. In 2012, for every ten people being released around two were recalled to prison. This figure rose steadily in the decade that followed, culminating in the statistics released today. 

Andy Keen-Downs CBE, CEO of Pact, said: “These alarming new figures are yet another indicator that reveals the scale of the challenge facing the prison and probation system. Steadily rising recall rates over the last decade have been a significant factor in driving the prison overcrowding crisis that faced new ministers when they took office last summer.

“Those who pose a danger to the public should go back to prison. But too often, people are recalled on minor technicalities or because they don’t have the support they need - they may have missed an appointment or have nowhere to live. We should consider returning to the system that required a court to recall someone to prison rather than an overworked probation officer.

“More investment is urgently needed to make sure that people leave prison with the support they need to make a fresh start. That means investing in public and voluntary sector services to ensure that when people leave prison, they have a home, a job and treatment for substance misuse or mental health conditions. 

"Most of all, we need to follow the evidence which shows that a prison leaver’s most effective resettlement agency is often their family, who are there to help their loved one get back on their feet. If we’re serious about creating a sustainable justice system that works for everyone, investment in family services should be a priority.”