Thousands of prisoners in the UK will be released early starting in September to prevent the “collapse” of the prison system, the new justice minister, Shabana Mahmood, announced on Friday.
Mahmood emphasized that without this action, the prison system risks a “total breakdown of law and order,” as jails have been operating at 99% capacity since 2023, with only 700 places left for men.
The UK holds the highest per capita prison population in Western Europe. The early release plan excludes violent offenders serving more than four years, sex offenders, domestic abuse offenders, and those with life sentences.
Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, highlighted the urgency, noting prisons are at “breaking point.” Mahmood, appointed last week following Labour’s general election victory, warned that if space runs out, “van-loads of dangerous people” could be left with nowhere to go, potentially leading to widespread lawlessness.
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“If we fail to act now, we face the collapse of the criminal justice system and a total breakdown of law and order,” Mahmood stated.
Under the new plan, prisoners eligible for automatic release after serving half their sentence will now be freed after serving 40%. This change will commence in September, allowing time for the Prison and Probation Service to prepare.
As of Friday, the total prison population reached over 87,505, with more than 83,800 men, leaving just 1,451 spaces available.
The Ministry of Justice reports that since early 2023, men’s prisons have been routinely operating at over 99% occupancy.
Officials stress the need for a buffer of around 1,425 cell spaces to manage sudden influxes of inmates.
In response, six new prisons are being built to create an additional 20,000 places.
The Prison Governors’ Association welcomed the swift measures and called for a “full review” to ensure the public is never placed in this position again.
PGA chairman Mark Fairhurst stated the measures would free up around 4,500-5,000 spaces, providing a 12 to 18-month respite before further action is needed.
