In Britain, 700 criminals were released ahead of time.

700 criminals, accused of theft and domestic violence, were released from UK prisons ahead of time. This was reported on October 1 by The Telegraph newspaper.

All of them were released early as part of a government early release program designed to reduce prison overcrowding. According to the newspaper, many of them thanked British Prime Minister Andy Burnham for the opportunity to leave prison.

Some of the former prisoners who served time for minor crimes said they were planning to start a new life. However, there were also those who questioned the effectiveness of the program and expressed confidence that they would soon be back behind bars. According to one of the newspaper's interlocutors, he has nowhere to go, and he will most likely commit thefts again in order to survive.

The decision of the British authorities has already attracted criticism, including due to the fact that victims of crimes will be at risk if the government fails to provide them with protection measures.

In total, in the next ten months, the British authorities plan to release 4.5 thousand criminals ahead of time. At the same time, the measure will not apply to those who have committed murders, rapists and those who have been accused of child molestation.

Also, the presumption of mandatory wearing of electronic bracelets within 48 hours after release will apply to released prisoners.

The Politico newspaper reported on September 23 that London's plans for the early release of thousands of prisoners to relieve overcrowded prisons have caused concern among EU countries. Such a measure could complicate the process of restarting relations between the UK and the EU.