Some 38,042 inmates had been freed as of the end of June this year, according to the Ministry of Justice. The scheme was launched as an emergency measure on September 10 last year, just days after the prison population reached a record high of 88,521. View 3 Images Almost 40,000 prisoners have been released as part of a new Government scheme (Image: Getty Images)

Nearly 40,000 prisoners in England and Wales have been let out of jail under the Government’s early release scheme to tackle overcrowding in prisons, figures show. ‌

Some 38,042 inmates had been freed as of the end of June this year, according to the Ministry of Justice. ‌

The scheme was launched as an emergency measure on September 10 last year, just days after the prison population reached a record high of 88,52

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