17 August 2026
The latest official data on the number of people recalled to prison for breaching their licence conditions says that figures remained “at historically high levels over the last five quarters” and that between January and March 2026 the total number of recalls (13,193) increased by 31% compared to the same quarter in 2025.
It is really important that people released from prison on licence understand their conditions to ensure they do not break them and find themselves back in prison. That is why I thought it important to flag that from 1 October 2026, the standard conditions that will be imposed on every person released on a fixed term sentence (and I imagine as a matter of policy on all indeterminate ones too) is going to change.
So what’s new?
First, it looks at though an attempt has been made to simplify the wording for most conditions. The explanatory notes say: “The wording of the standard conditions has been updated to make them easier for offenders to understand.”
For example, the condition to:
“be of good behaviour and not behave in a way which undermines the purpose of the licence period”
Will change to:
“behave well and in a way that supports the purpose of the offender being on licence.”
The language is shorter and positive rather than negative, although I am still not sure that the meaning of this particular condition is that much clearer.
Another, perhaps more puzzling example of a change is from the current condition to:
“not commit any offence”
To:
“not commit any crime”
It still amazes me how much scope there is for misunderstandings around licence conditions and that where individuals have difficulties in reading there is still no generic easy read version of licence conditions readily available.
Second, there is a new condition about passports. The explanatory notes state that there is a “new standard condition requiring offenders to give details of any passports held and seek permission before applying for a new passport.”
It will be important to make sure everyone to whom this applies is made aware of it. One of the major difficulties people face on release is getting ID and applying for a passport is often a way to get ID even if there is no intention to travel.
I have made a “compare” document to highlight the changes in conditions which should come into force on 1 October 2026 which you can access here.