From the Guardian today:

Record numbers of offenders are being recalled to prison in England and Wales with union officials claiming that some are deliberately breaking the terms of their probation in order to deal drugs in prison. Prison sources said that after the implementation of early release schemes, as many as 5,000 men were recalled in December alone – more than a third of the total number released in the year to June 2025.

The Guardian does not offer an annual total and one does not seem to have been published, but for just one quarter, April – June 2025, there were 11 041¹ so we might estimate around 40 000 for 2024/2025.

How many in Scotland? 290.²

So, to compare, England & Wales have 11 times the population, thus 290 becomes 3 190, if they’re comparable.

They’re not – recall rates in England & Wales, per head of population are 13 times higher.

One reason? Probation officers in England & Wales manage around 40 cases³ each while criminal justice social workers in Scotland only manage around 20⁴, half the load to be able to do a better job.

Sources:

1. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/offender-management-statistics-quarterly-april-to-june-2025/offender-management-statistics-quarterly-april-to-june-2025
2. https://www.gov.scot/publications/justice-social-work-statistics-in-scotland-2024-25-part-1/pages/8-statutory-voluntary-throughcare
3. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hm-prison-probation-service-workforce-quarterly-september-2025
4. https://www.gov.scot/publications/justice-social-work-statistics-in-scotland-2024-25-part-1/