Hundreds of prisoners walk free from jail in first wave of early releases

Prisoners celebrated as they left HMP Durham on the early release scheme (Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

The first of hundreds of prisoners have walked free from jail as part of a controversial early release scheme.

Groups of convicts left HMP Durham, Cardiff and Brixton this morning with around 700 prisoners due to be let out of jail early.

Offenders serving sentences for fraud, domestic abuse and coercive control are now eligible for release after a third of their term in a move designed to free-up prison space.