The British government triggered emergency measures to release some criminals from prisons early and to delay the start of certain court hearings to prevent overcrowding in jails, Report informs with reference to Reuters.
The prison population in England and Wales has doubled in the last 30 years as a result of longer criminal sentences and a tougher approach to violent and drug-related crime.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the early release would only apply to prisoners at the end of their sentences and they would be under strict supervision, including electronic tags.
Prisoners convicted of terrorism, sexual or serious violent crimes would be excluded and prison governors would have the power to block some individuals being released, the spokesperson said.
The government is releasing the prisoners early to relieve "short-term pressure on the prison estate," the spokesperson said. "It is a temporary scheme."
The Ministry of Justice said in a separate statement on Wednesday that it had initiated a measure whereby detained defendants who were denied bail could be returned to police custody instead of going to prison if there was no space available there.