UK Government to Release Over 1,000 Inmates Early Amid Prison Overcrowding Crisis

The UK government has announced plans to release more than 1,000 inmates early to alleviate severe prison overcrowding in England and Wales. Under the new policy, offenders serving one to four years who are recalled to prison for breaching their licenses will be released after 28 days. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized that this measure aims to free up approximately 1,400 prison spaces and provide temporary relief as the government works on longer-term solutions.

Mahmood acknowledged that building additional prisons is part of the strategy, with a £4.7 billion investment planned to fund more facilities. However, she cautioned that constructing new prisons alone will not resolve the crisis. A senior Ministry of Justice official warned that without immediate action, the country could run out of prison places for male offenders by November. The government is also considering changes to sentencing policies, which are expected to take effect in spring next year.

The decision to release inmates early bypasses the usual parole board process, as many of these offenders would have been released already if not for a backlog in parole assessments. The upcoming changes will be implemented in the coming weeks, as the government seeks to manage the growing prison population and address the underlying issues contributing to the overcrowding crisis.