Licence and recall

Most prisoners are released part-way through their sentence on licence with conditions. Breaking them can mean being recalled to prison.

Licence is the part of a prison sentence served in the community after release. People serving most fixed-term (standard determinate) sentences are released automatically part-way through, at the moment usually at 40% or halfway, and some serious offenders at two-thirds. From 1 October 2026 the Sentencing Act 2026 moves many of these points earlier, to one third and one half, phased in for existing prisoners until June 2027, with many serious offences excluded. On licence you are supervised by the Probation Service and must follow conditions, such as keeping appointments, living at an approved address and being of good behaviour, usually until the sentence ends. Breaking conditions or reoffending can lead to recall to prison. Since March 2026, most adults recalled from a standard sentence serve a fixed 56 days before automatic re-release, unless excluded, for example because they are charged with a new offence or managed as high risk.

Checked as at 25 September 2026. General information only, not legal advice.