There are fewer than 100 available spaces left across the male prison estate in England and Wales we understand. Sources working across the penal system have said the bank holiday weekend created several challenges, with more arrests due to various festivals taking place, and inmates not released on Monday as they usually would be. However, […]
The Times reports today that a senior judge has said that people on bail who are likely to receive a custodial sentence should have their hearings postponed until at least September 10 Magistrates have been told to stop jailing convicted criminals for several weeks in the latest effort to ease pressure on Britain’s overcrowded prisons. […]
Ministers have triggered Operation Early Dawn, an emergency scheme designed to ease the prisons overcrowding crisis. Here we explain exactly what the measures mean. What emergency measure has been triggered? Operation Early Dawn, a long-standing contingency measure is used when prisons do not have enough space on a particular day. When triggered, it delays defendants […]
Thousands will benefit from early release as police warn of law and order breakdown as urgent action is taken A chief constable said he is “really worried” about the impact a planned release of thousands of prisoners might have on his region. From September, some prisoners will be released after they have served 40% of […]
A former chief inspector of prisons has urged the Labour government to abandon Tory plans for new prisons – spending the money on crime prevention and rehabilitation instead. Nick Hardwick, now a professor of Criminal Justice at Royal Holloway University, wants a radical rethink on how to save the justice system. Before the general election, […]
People jailed for taking part in the violent disorder after the Southport stabbing attack could be released early, Downing Street has said. Police on Friday said 302 people had been charged with offences including theft, antisocial behaviour and “spreading online hate” since the incident on 29 July and said there would be more to come. However, since […]
10.53am 18th July 2024 The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Shabana Mahmood) With permission, Mr Speaker, I will make a statement about prison capacity in England and Wales. As you know, Mr Speaker, I wanted to make this announcement first in this House. However, given the scale of the emergency facing our […]
Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, says the government has ‘no option’ as jails are projected to overflow by September An estimated 5,500 prisoners will be released early under emergency measures, ministers have announced. Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, said the government had “no option” but to trigger arrangements for some prisoners to be released after […]
Thousands will benefit from early release as police warn of law and order breakdown unless urgent action is taken Prisoners convicted of offences such as assault, burglary and robbery will be among thousands freed from jails less than halfway through their sentence under emergency measures announced by the government. From September, prisoners on fixed sentences […]
Thousands will benefit from early release as police warn of law and order breakdown unless urgent action is taken As we correctly predicted earlier from September eligible prisoners will serve 40% of sentence. Keir Starmer’s government will release thousands of prisoners after they have served 40% of their sentences and recruit 1,000 probation officers to […]
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said overcrowding in prisons in England and Wales is “worse than I thought it was” and the previous Conservative government was “reckless” to allow such a situation to take hold. His comments come as the government has said it will announce its plans for releasing some prisoners early on […]
The incoming justice secretary must take emergency measures to stave off the acute crises facing the criminal justice system, according to a campaigning organisation that promotes evidence-based, innovative justice policy reforms. In a new report published today, the Centre for Justice Innovation argues that most prisoners sentenced to four years or less should be released […]