Laundry Rooms Converted into Cells to Tackle Prison Overcrowding
The government is spending £110m on creating more cells in existing prisons in England and Wales as part of its plans to tackle overcrowding. The money, which will come from existing budgets, will be used to convert unused office space, laundry rooms, and storage areas into cells, the Ministry of Justice said.
Justice Secretary Alex Norris is set to provide further details in the House of Commons later on changes to the early release scheme, aiming to free up space in prisons as they approach maximum capacity. He emphasized that prisoners released early do not gain true freedom and that victims will have a say in the restrictions placed on these individuals.
Norris revealed that victims are being sent letters regarding criminals' early releases and will receive support from victim liaison officers. Offenders can expect restrictions such as tagging and bans on attending football games upon their release.
Victims' Commissioner Claire Waxman expressed concern about thousands of victims wanting to know how these early releases will impact them, particularly those who have experienced domestic abuse or stalking.
The government's investment in prison spaces was announced in last year's spending review, covering plans up to 2030. This includes a £7bn capital investment to create 14,000 prison places by 2031. The £110m for additional prison cells is not a new allocation.
Mark Fairhurst, Chairman of the Prison Officers' Association, raised concerns about staff shortages, stating, "You can create as much additional space... but where are the staff coming from?"
Norris acknowledged staffing as a critical aspect, emphasizing retention as key.
The early release scheme is expected to see approximately 4,500 prisoners released in phases starting from October. The number of releases was reduced after the government excluded rapists, serious child sex offenders, grooming offenses, and manslaughter from the scheme. Following a campaign by PC Andrew Harper's family, the government also excluded those convicted of manslaughter.
Norris attributed the "biggest impact" on capacity creation to the deportation of foreign national offenders, who can now be removed at any point after conviction. Government figures show that as of June 30th, there were 10,134 foreign nationals in custody, with 3,283 on remand.
Other measures include plans to end Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, which are given to prisoners deemed a risk to the public but whose crimes do not warrant a life sentence.