UK releases thousands of prisoners to ease jail overcrowding

Reynolds placed the blame on the last Conservative government, which was voted out in July, saying the decision "should have been made prior to the election" but that it "had given up on governing".

"Of all the scandals we inherited, I think the prison system, the justice system, is probably the worst of all," he added.

Chief Inspector of Probation Martin Jones told BBC radio that the pressure on prisons was "extreme".

"It's the highest population we've ever seen in this country. Prisons are absolutely close to 100 percent capacity.

"My understanding, as of yesterday there is a couple of 100 spaces remaining."

Jones warned that it was a "certainty that some will reoffend", highlighting that around a third of people released from prison each year go on to commit further offences within a year.

Reynolds insisted that "no violent offenders, no domestic abusers will be eligible" for early release, adding that "we've put those greater protections in place".

The prison population has swollen in recent months by those convicted of taking part in  anti-immigration riots across England.

The government has said those involved in the unrest would not be excluded from the early release plans.