Prison Capacity

The Minister has delivered a sobering statement to the House of Commons regarding the crisis facing the prison system in England and Wales. The Minister revealed that the male prison estate has been operating at over 99% capacity for the past 18 months, a situation that the previous government failed to address. The Minister warned that if the prison system were to run out of space, it would have catastrophic consequences, with the courts grinding to a halt, suspects unable to be held in custody, and police officers unable to make arrests, leaving criminals free to act without consequence. The Minister stated that the previous government's inaction has brought the prison system to the brink of collapse. To avert this disaster, the Government has decided to introduce a temporary change in the law. Those serving eligible standard determinate sentences will now be released after serving 40% of their sentence, rather than the usual 50%. This measure is expected to result in the release of around 5,500 offenders in September and October. The Minister emphasized that this is an emergency measure and not a permanent change. The Government has assured the House that important exclusions will be in place, with sentences for the most dangerous crimes, such as sexual and serious violent offences, remaining unchanged. Additionally, strict licence conditions, electronic tagging, and curfews will be implemented to ensure the safe management of offenders in the community. The Minister also announced a review into how the capacity crisis was allowed to happen and why the necessary decisions were not taken at critical moments. The Government is committed to addressing the long-term issues within the prison system, including accelerating the prison building programme, strengthening the probation service, and improving offenders' access to learning, training, and employment opportunities to reduce reoffending. The Minister acknowledged the gravity of the situation and the difficult decision the Government has had to make, but emphasized that the safety of the public is the top priority. The Government is determined to bring the prison system under control and establish a sustainable solution to the crisis.