Read our Privacy noticeThe chief probation inspector has warned that the early release of prisoners could put the public at risk of more serious or violent crimes. Martin Jones, chief inspector of probation for England and Wales, said probation staff who will be required to manage some 5,000 people expected to be released early under sentencing changes are “already under unprecedented pressure”. “They’re managing a caseload of 258,000 cases; that’s nearly three times the number that are in our prisons, and obviously the early release scheme will be increasing that pressure considerably,” he told the BBC. Prime Minister Andy Burnham paused the early release scheme last month ( PA )Prime Minister Andy Burnham paused the early release scheme last month in the face of opposition over the potential early release of two of the killers of PC Andrew Harper. On Tuesday, probation officers voted overwhelmingly in favour of potential strike action in protest against the early release of prisoners.