Has the early prison release scheme impacted the Met?
Roughly 700 of the estimated 4,500 prisoners eligible under the Government’s early prison release scheme were released on 1 October. This marked the first of 10 planned release phases, with the final phase scheduled for June 2027.
The Sentencing Act 2026 introduced several changes to the early release of prisoners in England and Wales. The Government has said that this is “intended to help ensure there is enough space in prisons, while making sure there is tough supervision of offenders when they are released to keep victims and the wider public safe”.[1]
However, the Met Commissioner raised concerns in 2025, highlighting that the proposed changes to sentencing guidelines were going to cost “hundreds of millions” in extra policing costs and that the Government has been “silent” on the impact of sentencing reforms on policing.[2]
The London Assembly Police and Crime Committee will meet tomorrow to question the Met and the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime on the operational demand and financial pressures the prisoner early release scheme is creating for the Met, and how these risks, resource implications and costs are being managed.
The Committee will also question guests on the handling of investigating high profile individuals, including the Jeffrey Esptein case.
Guests include:
- Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime
- Ade Adelekan, Temporary Assistant Commissioner, Met Operations and Performance, Metropolitan Police Service
The meeting will take place in the Chamber at City Hall on Wednesday 14 October 2026 at 10am.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
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Notes for editors:
- Progression model: changes to prison release arrangements - GOV.UK
- LBC, Sentencing changes to cost ‘hundreds of millions’ in extra policing, Met chief tells LBC, 28 May 2025
- Susan Hall AM, Chairman of the Police and Crime Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Police and Crime Committee.
- Read the agenda in full.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Tony Smyth in the Assembly Media Office on 07763 251 727 or [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.