Sentences end early Concern that some will not cope outside

For 1,700 prisoners, the day they had been waiting for came sooner than hoped, as they were set free from jail yesterday as part of the government's emergency early release programme.

- Robyn Vinter

The measures, designed to free up space in the UK's overcrowded prisons, mean some offenders were released on licence after serving 40% of their sentences.

Some of those released were greeted by smiling groups of friends and family - one inmate from HMP Wandsworth, in south London, was even met with music and champagne - while others exited the prison gates alone.

However, there have been concerns that many will not get the support they need in the outside world. At HMP Leeds, the country's second most overcrowded prison according to the Howard League for Penal Reform, released inmate Stuart Bennett, 48, said he felt that prison and the probation services were guilty of letting down those who needed help.

Speaking after being released two weeks after being jailed on prison recall, he said: "Prison needs reform. There are people who aren't committing crime that are getting locked up.

"I reckon 70% of people in there need help, not punishment. We're a lost generation of ravers who didn't know the party was over.

"There's a lot of people being drug tested and doing drug rehabilitation and getting jailed if they fail as punishment. They need help. Prison needs reform and probation needs reform."