UK Justice Minister, Shabana Plans Early Release Of Thousands Of Prisoners To Prevent Jail Collapse
She emphasised that failure to act risked a total breakdown of law and order, noting that only 700 spaces remained for men, with jails operating at 99% capacity since 2023.
Shabana Mahmood, the United Kingdom new Justice Minister, declared on Friday that thousands of prisoners would be released early from September to prevent the collapse of the prison system.
She emphasised that failure to act risked a total breakdown of law and order, noting that only 700 spaces remained for men, with jails operating at 99% capacity since 2023
England and Wales currently hold the highest per capita prison population in Western Europe.
The early release initiative excludes violent offenders with sentences exceeding four years, sex offenders, those convicted of domestic abuse, and life sentence inmates.
Urgent action was stressed by Charlie Taylor, chief inspector of prisons, who described the system as being at breaking point, AFP reports.
Mahmood, appointed shortly after Labour’s general election victory, warned vividly about the consequences of prison overcrowding. She painted a picture of potential chaos with dangerous individuals roaming unchecked due to lack of space.
In a speech at a prison, she highlighted the risk of criminals operating without fear of consequences, potentially leading to looting and widespread disorder.
The plans entail allowing prisoners eligible for automatic release after serving half their sentence to be freed sooner than usual, reducing their required time behind bars from 50% to 40% of their sentence.
These releases are scheduled for September to give the Prison and Probation Service adequate time to prepare.
Official figures disclosed that the total prisoner count surpassed 87,505 on Friday, predominantly men, leaving just 1,451 available spaces.
Since early 2023, men’s prisons have consistently operated at over 99% capacity, as reported by the Ministry of Justice.
Authorities indicated a need for a buffer of approximately 1,425 cell spaces in men’s prisons to manage sudden increases in inmate numbers.
In response to the crisis, construction of six new prisons is underway, aimed at adding an additional 20,000 places. The Prison Governors’ Association welcomed the swift implementation of new measures but insisted on a full review to prevent future crises.
PGA chairman, Mark Fairhurst, estimated that these measures would free up 4,500-5,000 spaces, providing prisons with a buffer of 12 to 18 months before requiring further interventions.
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