The progression model release provisions came into force on 1 October 2026 under the Sentencing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 6 and Revocation) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/953), and the BBC reported that hundreds of prisoners were released that day.
Resolves on legislation.gov.uk and gov.uk. YES if the progression model release points are in force on 1 October 2026, evidenced by commencement regulations published on legislation.gov.uk or a Ministry of Justice or Prime Minister's Office notice on gov.uk confirming releases began that day. A postponement announced on or before 1 October resolves NO. If that source has not published in time, BBC News and The Times settle it.
We looked for every time since 2007 that ministers in England and Wales or Scotland cut more crimes or groups of offenders out of an early-release scheme after they had already announced it. Exclusions written in at the start do not count. We found four such cuts, and three kept their release dates. In those three, no delay came with the cut or within 30 days. Four cases is two short of the six we need before we show a History figure.