Offender management
Stock and flow statistics relating to offenders who are in prison.
Visit prisons and probation statistics for data sources and more details. There is also a guide to offender management statistics (PDF; October 2023).
Prison population
Total number of prisoners at a specific point in time each year.
| Period | Prison population |
|---|---|
| 30-Jun-2002 | 71,218 |
| 30-Jun-2003 | 73,657 |
| 30-Jun-2004 | 74,488 |
| 30-Jun-2005 | 76,190 |
| 30-Jun-2006 | 77,982 |
| 30-Jun-2007 | 79,734 |
| 30-Jun-2008 | 83,194 |
| 30-Jun-2009 | 83,391 |
| 30-Jun-2010 | 85,002 |
| 30-Jun-2011 | 85,374 |
| 30-Jun-2012 | 86,048 |
| 30-Jun-2013 | 83,842 |
| 30-Jun-2014 | 85,509 |
| 30-Jun-2015 | 86,193 |
| 30-Jun-2016 | 85,134 |
| 30-Jun-2017 | 85,863 |
| 30-Jun-2018 | 82,773 |
| 30-Jun-2019 | 82,710 |
| 30-Jun-2020 | 79,514 |
| 30-Jun-2021 | 78,324 |
| 30-Jun-2022 | 80,659 |
| 30-Jun-2023 | 85,851 |
30-Jun-2023
85,851
Update 31 Dec 2023
The prison population at 31 Dec 2023 was 87,489.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Offender management statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 January 2024. Next publication: 25 April 2024 9:30am.
Prison population - IPP
Sourced from Table 1.9a of Prison Population.
| Period | Prison population - IPP |
|---|---|
| 30-Jun-2005 | 24 |
| 30-Jun-2006 | 1,079 |
| 30-Jun-2007 | 2,859 |
| 30-Jun-2008 | 4,461 |
| 30-Jun-2009 | 5,240 |
| 30-Jun-2010 | 5,659 |
| 30-Jun-2011 | 6,056 |
| 30-Jun-2012 | 6,078 |
| 30-Jun-2013 | 5,618 |
| 30-Jun-2014 | 5,119 |
| 30-Jun-2015 | 4,614 |
| 30-Jun-2016 | 3,998 |
| 30-Jun-2017 | 3,353 |
| 30-Jun-2018 | 2,745 |
| 30-Jun-2019 | 2,315 |
| 30-Jun-2020 | 1,969 |
| 30-Jun-2021 | 1,722 |
| 30-Jun-2022 | 1,492 |
| 30-Jun-2023 | 1,312 |
30-Jun-2023
1,312
Update 31 Dec 2023
The number of unreleased IPP prisoners at 31 Dec 2023 was 1,227.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Offender management statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 January 2024. Next publication: 25 April 2024 9:30am.
Prison population - life sentence
Life sentences (all variations).
| Period | Prison population - life sentence |
|---|---|
| 30-Jun-2002 | 5,146 |
| 30-Jun-2003 | 5,419 |
| 30-Jun-2004 | 5,595 |
| 30-Jun-2005 | 5,858 |
| 30-Jun-2006 | 6,195 |
| 30-Jun-2007 | 6,622 |
| 30-Jun-2008 | 6,922 |
| 30-Jun-2009 | 6,942 |
| 30-Jun-2010 | 7,475 |
| 30-Jun-2011 | 7,588 |
| 30-Jun-2012 | 7,676 |
| 30-Jun-2013 | 7,564 |
| 30-Jun-2014 | 7,468 |
| 30-Jun-2015 | 7,439 |
| 30-Jun-2016 | 7,361 |
| 30-Jun-2017 | 7,247 |
| 30-Jun-2018 | 7,117 |
| 30-Jun-2019 | 7,027 |
| 30-Jun-2020 | 6,985 |
| 30-Jun-2021 | 6,963 |
| 30-Jun-2022 | 7,084 |
| 30-Jun-2023 | 7,202 |
30-Jun-2023
7,202
Update 31 Dec 2023
The number of unreleased life sentence prisoners at 31 Dec 2023 was 7,308.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Offender management statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 January 2024. Next publication: 25 April 2024 9:30am.
Prison population - remand
The number of prisoners on remand, including both untried and convicted unsentenced.
| Period | Prison population - remand |
|---|---|
| 30-Jun-2008 | 13,440 |
| 30-Jun-2009 | 13,276 |
| 30-Jun-2010 | 13,004 |
| 30-Jun-2011 | 12,464 |
| 30-Jun-2012 | 11,324 |
| 30-Jun-2013 | 10,971 |
| 30-Jun-2014 | 12,197 |
| 30-Jun-2015 | 11,785 |
| 30-Jun-2016 | 9,288 |
| 30-Jun-2017 | 9,638 |
| 30-Jun-2018 | 9,285 |
| 30-Jun-2019 | 9,145 |
| 30-Jun-2020 | 11,388 |
| 30-Jun-2021 | 12,727 |
| 30-Jun-2022 | 13,409 |
| 30-Jun-2023 | 15,523 |
30-Jun-2023
15,523
Update 31 Dec 2023
The number of remand prisoners at 31 Dec 2023 was 16,005.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Offender management statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 January 2024. Next publication: 25 April 2024 9:30am.
Prison first receptions (quarterly)
A first reception is a measure which counts a prisoner's first movement into custody following a court hearing for a particular set of offences committed, and therefore gives the best indication of the number of new prisoners in the reporting period.
| Period | Prison first receptions (quarterly) |
|---|---|
| Jan-Mar 2010 | 30,242 |
| Apr-Jun 2010 | 29,676 |
| Jul-Sep 2010 | 30,166 |
| Oct-Dec 2010 | 27,958 |
| Jan-Mar 2011 | 30,215 |
| Apr-Jun 2011 | 29,048 |
| Jul-Sep 2011 | 32,212 |
| Oct-Dec 2011 | 29,285 |
| Jan-Mar 2012 | 30,303 |
| Apr-Jun 2012 | 27,415 |
| Jul-Sep 2012 | 28,776 |
| Oct-Dec 2012 | 26,278 |
| Jan-Mar 2013 | 26,423 |
| Apr-Jun 2013 | 27,129 |
| Jul-Sep 2013 | 27,871 |
| Oct-Dec 2013 | 25,895 |
| Jan-Mar 2014 | 26,151 |
| Apr-Jun 2014 | |
| Jul-Sep 2014 | 26,391 |
| Oct-Dec 2014 | 25,087 |
| Jan-Mar 2015 | 24,514 |
| Apr-Jun 2015 | 23,683 |
| Jul-Sep 2015 | 22,958 |
| Oct-Dec 2015 | 22,567 |
| Jan-Mar 2016 | 22,100 |
| Apr-Jun 2016 | 21,707 |
| Jul-Sep 2016 | 21,732 |
| Oct-Dec 2016 | 20,719 |
| Jan-Mar 2017 | 21,357 |
| Apr-Jun 2017 | 21,236 |
| Jul-Sep 2017 | 21,335 |
| Oct-Dec 2017 | 19,989 |
| Jan-Mar 2018 | 19,927 |
| Apr-Jun 2018 | 19,330 |
| Jul-Sep 2018 | 18,974 |
| Oct-Dec 2018 | 18,219 |
| Jan-Mar 2019 | 17,690 |
| Apr-Jun 2019 | 18,370 |
| Jul-Sep 2019 | 18,806 |
| Oct-Dec 2019 | 17,306 |
| Jan-Mar 2020 | 17,092 |
| Apr-Jun 2020 | 12,608 |
| Jul-Sep 2020 | 15,242 |
| Oct-Dec 2020 | 14,634 |
| Jan-Mar 2021 | 14,131 |
| Apr-Jun 2021 | 15,206 |
| Jul-Sep 2021 | 15,103 |
| Oct-Dec 2021 | 15,000 |
| Jan-Mar 2022 | 15,354 |
| Apr-Jun 2022 | 15,941 |
| Jul-Sep 2022 | 15,810 |
| Oct-Dec 2022 | 16,411 |
| Jan-Mar 2023 | 17,128 |
| Apr-Jun 2023 | 17,430 |
| Jul-Sep 2023 | 19,028 |
Jul-Sep 2023
19,028
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Offender management statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 January 2024. Next publication: 25 April 2024 9:30am.
Prison releases (quarterly)
A release is defined as a release from prison where the prisoner has finished serving the custodial term of their sentence(s) and excludes:
- civil non-criminal prisoners;
- persons committed to custody for non-payment of a fine;
- releases to hospital;
- deported prisoners from HMPPS operated Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs); and
- releases following recall after release on licence, except occasions:
- where the offender has committed a new offence and is committed to custody for a new sentence and the subsequent release date falls after the sentence expiry date of the original sentence; or
- where upon release the offender is subject to the licence condition of the new custodial sentence.
The data presented here from Oct-Dec 2021 onwards uses determinate sentences.
| Period | Prison releases (quarterly) |
|---|---|
| Jan-Mar 2015 | 17,797 |
| Apr-Jun 2015 | 18,526 |
| Jul-Sep 2015 | 18,880 |
| Oct-Dec 2015 | 19,348 |
| Jan-Mar 2016 | 17,923 |
| Apr-Jun 2016 | 18,562 |
| Jul-Sep 2016 | 18,714 |
| Oct-Dec 2016 | 18,361 |
| Jan-Mar 2017 | 17,639 |
| Apr-Jun 2017 | 17,763 |
| Jul-Sep 2017 | 17,897 |
| Oct-Dec 2017 | 18,196 |
| Jan-Mar 2018 | 17,904 |
| Apr-Jun 2018 | 17,369 |
| Jul-Sep 2018 | 17,136 |
| Oct-Dec 2018 | 17,215 |
| Jan-Mar 2019 | 15,432 |
| Apr-Jun 2019 | 15,708 |
| Jul-Sep 2019 | 15,699 |
| Oct-Dec 2019 | 15,931 |
| Jan-Mar 2020 | 14,721 |
| Apr-Jun 2020 | 13,290 |
| Jul-Sep 2020 | 12,526 |
| Oct-Dec 2020 | 12,716 |
| Jan-Mar 2021 | 11,419 |
| Apr-Jun 2021 | 11,623 |
| Jul-Sep 2021 | 11,750 |
| Oct - Dec 2021 | 12,112 |
| Jan - Mar 2022 | 11,198 |
| Apr - Jun 2022 | 11,359 |
| Jul - Sep 2022 | 11,886 |
| Oct - Dec 2022 | 11,880 |
| Jan - Mar 2023 | 11,770 |
| Apr - Jun 2023 | 12,015 |
| Jul - Sep 2023 | 12,237 |
Jul - Sep 2023
12,237
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Offender management statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 January 2024. Next publication: 25 April 2024 9:30am.
Individuals released on temporary licence
Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) is the mechanism under which offenders may be released into the community, generally towards the end of their sentences, for rehabilitative purposes. It can play an important role in public protection by allowing risk management plans for offenders to be tested in the community under strict conditions before they are released. It also provides a valuable means of helping offenders prepare for their resettlement in the community by, for example, finding work or rebuilding links with their families, which helps to reduce reoffending.
These figures show the number of individuals released on temporary licence at least once in the quarter. Some individuals may be released multiple times within the quarter or over multiple quarters. Therefore, it is not possible to sum multiple quarters together to find the number of releases on temporary licence over a longer period.
| Period | Individuals released on temporary licence |
|---|---|
| Apr-Jun 2015 | 3,668 |
| Jul-Sep 2015 | 3,521 |
| Oct-Dec 2015 | 3,514 |
| Jan-Mar 2016 | 3,546 |
| Apr-Jun 2016 | 3,685 |
| Jul-Sep 2016 | 3,879 |
| Oct-Dec 2016 | 3,985 |
| Jan-Mar 2017 | 4,019 |
| Apr-Jun 2017 | 4,023 |
| Jul-Sep 2017 | 4,044 |
| Oct-Dec 2017 | 4,127 |
| Jan-Mar 2018 | 4,098 |
| Apr-Jun 2018 | 4,185 |
| Jul-Sep 2018 | 4,323 |
| Oct-Dec 2018 | 4,283 |
| Jan-Mar 2019 | 4,284 |
| Apr-Jun 2019 | 4,534 |
| Jul-Sep 2019 | 5,134 |
| Oct-Dec 2019 | 5,280 |
| Jan-Mar 2020 | 4,957 |
| Apr-Jun 2020 | 794 |
| Jul-Sep 2020 | 1,617 |
| Oct-Dec 2020 | 2,189 |
| Jan-Mar 2021 | 1,067 |
| Apr-Jun 2021 | 3,026 |
| Jul-Sep 2021 | 3,712 |
| Oct-Dec 2021 | 4,082 |
| Jan - Mar 2022 | 3,984 |
| Apr - Jun 2022 | 4,127 |
| Jul - Sep 2022 | 4,257 |
| Oct - Dec 2022 | 4,255 |
| Jan - Mar 2023 | 4,234 |
| Apr - Jun 2023 | 4,282 |
| Jul - Sep 2023 | 4,520 |
Jul - Sep 2023
4,520
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Offender management statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 January 2024. Next publication: 25 April 2024 9:30am.
Prison operational capacity
The operational capacity of a prison is the total number of prisoners that an establishment can hold taking into account control, security and the proper operation of the planned regime.
This measure reports the useable operational capacity of the estate, which is the sum of all establishments' operational capacity less an operating margin. Figures are taken on the last working Friday of June each year.
Jun 2023
86,859
Update 31 Dec 2023
At 31 Dec 2023 the useable operational capacity of the estate was 88,987.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Prison population statistics (annual) publication.
Publication date
Published: 12 January 2024.