Early release inmates 'risky'
About 5,000 criminals let out early to ease prison overcrowding had previously been assessed as too much of a risk to be freed wearing electronic tags.
Nearly one in five of those benefiting from the Government's controversial End of Custody Licence scheme had been refused tagging in the past.
A total of 28,879 criminals were freed up to 18 days early between June 29 last year and May 31.