Prison overcrowding crisis fuelled by ‘tough on crime’ talk, Labour’s new tzar finds

The UK’s prison overcrowding crisis has been fuelled by politicians' attempts to seem “tough on crime”, the man appointed by Labour to review prisons has found. David Gauke, former Conservative lord chancellor, has said longer jail terms have been a “knee jerk” policy response to show government action, leading to an overwhelmed and ineffective system. […]