Rioters could be let out of jail EARLY under Labour's prison plan
Convicts will be released after 40% of their sentence, rather than halfway through their sentence after ministers were warned the Prison Service could run out of cells by early September.
Rioters could be released from prison after serving just 40% of their sentence, Downing Street has admitted.
The prison overcrowding crisis forced ministers to take emergency action to avoid a "total breakdown in law and order".
Convicts will be released after 40% of their sentence, rather than halfway through their sentence after ministers were warned the Prison Service could run out of cells by early September.
But the riots have led to almost 1,000 people being arrested within weeks, meaning pressure on the criminal justice system will intensify again.
Asked whether the scheme will be changed to exclude those involved in unrest across the UK over recent weeks, a Number 10 spokeswoman said the early release of prisoners will be based on the sentence they have been given.
She continued: "There's no specific exclusion for the rioters, the scheme is as previously set out by the Justice Secretary.
"Also, we're very clear that those who are convicted of serious violence and serve sentences of four years and over, or a terrorism offence, will be excluded," she added.
Among those set to be released early will be violent offenders, but Ms Mahmood has insisted “serious sexual and violent” criminals will remain behind bars.
Thugs will be released under the temporary scheme if they are serving sentences of less than four years and are no longer deemed a risk to the public.
Ms Mahmood had warned, when launching the scheme, that criminals will exploit the prison capacity crisis, with “looters running amok, smashing in windows, robbing shops and setting neighbourhoods alight” unless justice chiefs find more cells.
Children as young as 12 are due to appear in court as suspects continued to be charged over widespread public disorder.
Among those in court on Monday include the wife of a Conservative councillor who is accused of encouraging people on social media to attack hotels housing asylum seekers.
Lucy Connolly, the wife of West Northamptonshire councillor Raymond Connolly, is alleged to have posted on X on the day three girls were stabbed to death in Southport, saying: "Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the bastards for all I care... If that makes me racist, so be it."
The 41-year-old, of Parkfield Avenue, Northampton, is yet to enter a plea to the charge and will appear at the town's crown court.
The Crown Prosecution Service said two 12-year-old youths have been charged with violent disorder, with one due to appear at Liverpool Youth Court and the other at Manchester City Magistrates' Court.
The pair are believed to become the youngest to appear in court in connection with the disorder.
Also in Manchester, a man has admitted throwing a missile at police during "shameful disorder" in Bolton town centre on August 4.
Niall Charnock, 31, was caught on social media footage breaking through a police barricade and throwing something at officers.
At Teesside Crown Court, a teenager seen "celebrating" after throwing a rock which hit a police officer during riots in Darlington was detained for 18 months.
Cole Stewart, 18, was one of about 30 people who gathered outside a mosque in the town on August 5.
Stewart was seen breaking a large boulder into smaller rocks and throwing them towards police, and was later spotted "celebrating with his arms in the air" when one struck an officer in the arm.
So far, 927 people have been arrested and 466 charged in relation to the recent disorder, a spokesperson for the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said on Monday.
According to the Crown Prosecution Service, as of Monday, 273 people have been charged in relation to the disorder.
The figure released by the NPCC is higher to reflect charges which are solely done by police and do not involve the CPS.
Downing Street on Monday said ministers will remain on "high alert" over the violent disorder that swept through parts of Britain despite tensions appearing to subside over the weekend.
Police had been braced for further riots but no widespread unrest arose after a large turnout of anti-racism protesters and warnings that those involved could face 10-year prison sentences.
But Number 10 said on Monday that the Government was "not complacent" as "the work is not done" in dealing with the fallout from the violence.
Sir Keir Starmer has cancelled a planned holiday to Europe in order to "ensure that we can respond to the disorder", a spokeswoman said.
Meanwhile, on a visit to Hull on Monday, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh will meet British Transport Police officers and staff involved in responding to the violent disorder the city saw last week.
"We welcome that there has been a de-escalation this weekend," she said.
"But we're certainly not complacent and remain on high alert.
"We also recognise that the job is not done until people feel safe in their communities, but thanks to the work of our police officers, prosecutors ... and judiciary, we have seen a swift response from the justice system."
There continues to be a heavy focus on prosecuting those responsible for the disorder, which saw police officers attacked, mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers targeted, shops looted and community facilities torched.
Sir Keir will continue to have meetings and receive updates on the justice process this week, the spokeswoman said.
Far-right rallies and violence broke out in parts of the UK following the killing of three young girls in Southport after false claims spread online that the suspect was an asylum seeker who had arrived in Britain by boat.
It comes after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned "shameful behaviour" from "some senior politicians and pundits who sought to undermine the legitimacy and authority of the police".
