Early-release prisoners sleeping rough up 130% in three years, charity finds
The number of prisoners released into rough sleeping has risen 130% in three years, from 6,040 in 2022–23 to 14,360 in 2025–26, according to the prison charity Pact, as probation officers warn that the next tranche of early releases on 10 November will send more people straight onto the streets. About one in seven leavers now has no fixed abode, up from around one in ten. Napo’s Tania Bassett said: “There is very little available and it is a big concern for our members.”
The warning collides with Andy Burnham’s pledge, backed by £874m, to end rough sleeping, and with a government promise that anyone on the streets will be offered a route off them by Christmas. Ms Bassett described “this juxtaposition of releasing people into homelessness at the same time as Andy Burnham is saying we’re going to solve rough sleeping”. Pact’s analysis of Ministry of Justice data shows the share of releases recorded as “no fixed abode” rising from 11.3% to 15.9%; one charity leader calls the absence of money for people leaving custody the scheme’s “fatal flaw”. Early release was expanded to ease prison overcrowding, with tranches let out at fixed points in their sentences; councils have a statutory duty to those at risk of homelessness, but no duty to house every leaver. A government spokesperson said: “We’re working with councils and charities to tackle prison leaver homelessness, backed by record investment in probation and our drive to ensure anyone sleeping rough is offered a route off the streets or wider support by Christmas.” The figures rest on Pact’s reading of official data; watch the 10 November release and whether the Christmas pledge is measured against it.