We welcome the move to release people recalled to prison after 28 days without requiring a parole board decision – a step toward recognising that most recalls are not for new offences but for breaches of licence conditions that often reflect life’s complexities, not criminal intent. 

However, 28 days is still long enough to lose a job, housing, or family connections, undermining the progress many people make after prison. Short recalls still carry serious consequences and often do little to support rehabilitation. 

This reform must be paired with a wider shift: prioritising alternatives to recall that keep people in the community and focused on desistance. Too often, recall decisions are automatic, punitive, and overlook the root causes of non-compliance. 

The detail will matter. Who does this apply to? Will risk be assessed dynamically and fairly? Without those answers, there’s a risk this becomes another blunt tool in a system that needs a more human approach. 

To paraphrase James Timpson, a few weeks in prison helps no one. This could be a positive change but only if it’s part of a bigger rethink of how we support people to stay out, not just get out. 

Simon Scott

Head of Business Development