The justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has announced that thousands of prisoners will be released early at the start of September in an effort to address severe overcrowding in prisons. Mahmood warned of an impending “total collapse” of the prison system and a “total breakdown of law and order” if immediate action is not taken.
Mahmood criticized Rishi Sunak and the previous Conservative government for what she described as a “disgraceful dereliction of duty” in failing to address the crisis during their tenure. Under the new plan, certain prisoners in England and Wales will be eligible for release after serving 40% of their sentence, down from the current requirement of 50%.
The justice secretary expects the initial release in September to include “low thousands” of prisoners, with additional releases planned over the next 18 months. Updates will be provided to Parliament every three months. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has estimated that up to 4,000 extra male prisoners and fewer than 1,000 female prisoners will be released under the new measures.
The changes will not apply to those convicted of serious violent offenses with sentences of four years or more, sex offenses, or crimes related to domestic abuse, including stalking and choking.
Speaking at HMP Five Wells in Northamptonshire, Mahmood highlighted that prisons have been operating at 99% capacity since the start of last year and are now just weeks away from running out of space. She warned that without action, overflow police cells would become filled, resulting in “van-loads of dangerous people circling the country with nowhere to go.”
Mahmood stressed the dire consequences of inaction, stating that the judicial system could grind to a halt, with criminals acting without consequence and a potential rise in looting, vandalism, and arson. She emphasized that immediate measures are essential to prevent the collapse of the criminal justice system and maintain law and order.
In other news – Princess of Wales Kate Middleton to attend Wimbledon men’s final
Kensington Palace has confirmed that the Princess of Wales will attend the Wimbledon men’s final on Sunday. This marks her second public appearance following her cancer diagnosis and subsequent abdominal surgery earlier this year.
Last month, Catherine made her first public appearance since her illness by attending Trooping the Colour. This event was significant as it marked her return to public duties after a challenging health battle. Read more
