Prisons across England and Wales are at their highest capacity in months, with just 961 available cells, according to new government statistics.
The current available space is the lowest of the year and represents a critical shortage.
The latest figures reveal that only 961 cells are left in the entire prison system, meaning prisons are now almost 98.9% full. This marks a troubling increase in overcrowding, with fewer spaces than before the government carried out early prisoner releases last year.
The Howard League, a charity that advocates for prison reform, described the situation as a clear sign of a failing and unsustainable system. The organization emphasized the need for action, calling on the government to reduce the number of people sent to prison.
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What Do the Figures Show?
For the first time in six months, the number of free cells has fallen below 1,000, leaving only 1.1% capacity available. As of April 14, there were 551 vacant spaces in men’s prisons and 261 in women’s prisons across England and Wales. The Youth Custody Service had 141 empty cells, though overcrowding is less of an issue in this area.
With 88,081 people currently incarcerated, ministers now face increased pressure to act as prison capacity nears critical levels. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) also reported that more than 3,200 prisoners are serving sentences at home under strict conditions, monitored by electronic tags.
Could Another ‘Emergency Decision’ Be Needed?
The current prison population is in a worse position than last year when the government was forced to release some 3,000 prisoners early to avoid overcrowding. This “emergency decision” was made after many inmates served just 40% of their sentences, rather than the usual 50%.
At the time, the government placed blame on the Conservatives for failing to create enough prison capacity. In September 2024, prisons were 98.7% full, and just over 1,000 prisoners were freed in response to the shortage. The following month, in October, another release took place, temporarily increasing the number of available spaces.
However, the situation now appears more dire. Since the start of this year, the prison population has steadily increased, growing by 2,500 individuals. The government’s early release program faced harsh criticism from Conservatives, calling it a “rookie error by an arrogant and inexperienced government.”
Government Plans to Prevent Overcrowding
In response to the crisis, the government is exploring various methods to alleviate overcrowding. One measure being considered involves using police stations to house prisoners temporarily. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has also suggested that violent offenders could potentially have their sentences shortened as part of future early release schemes.
Additionally, an independent policy review will recommend limiting the use of short prison sentences, aiming to reduce the prison population by 9,500 by 2028.
Prison System ‘Unsustainable’
Andrew Neilson, the director of campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, responded to the latest figures by saying: “Prisons have been asked to do too much, with too little, for too long, and these prison population figures show that even the early release of thousands of people has not been able to solve this problem for good.”
He added that over half of all prisons are overcrowded and emphasized that “the situation is unsustainable.” Neilson highlighted that overcrowding and lack of resources are contributing to a failing system where prisoners’ needs are overlooked.
“It could not be clearer that further action is necessary. Ministers have acknowledged that they cannot build their way out of this crisis,” he said. “We must send fewer people to prison, curb the use of recall after release, and prioritize delivering an effective and responsive probation service that works to cut crime in the community.”
An MoJ spokesperson defended the government’s actions, stating: “We inherited overcrowded prisons, days from collapse.” The spokesperson explained that emergency measures were introduced last summer, but longer-term action is still required.
“We are delivering 14,000 new prison places by 2031, with 900 already completed and 1,500 more opening this summer. “We will also reform sentencing to ensure no government runs out of prison space again,” the spokesperson added.
(Sky News)
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