In an unprecedented move, prisons across the UK are preparing to release hundreds of inmates next week as part of an emergency early-release scheme aimed at alleviating overcrowding. Around 1,750 prisoners are set to be released on Tuesday, marking the largest release of prisoners in over a decade.
The Prison Governors’ Association (PGA) has confirmed that logistical challenges are being carefully considered ahead of the mass release. According to PGA President Tom Wheatley, some prisons may have to arrange transportation to take inmates to public transport stops, particularly for those incarcerated in more rural locations. “They are considering whether they are going to have to lay on transport. Some of our prisons are really rural and train stations are quite a way away,” Wheatley said.
At certain open prisons, as many as 20 per cent of inmates are expected to be released under the scheme. Wheatley further explained that logistics are a key concern, ensuring that prisoners released in the morning have ample time to travel and meet the requirements of signing on with their probation officers.
The early release scheme comes at a time when the UK’s prison population has reached record highs. Official figures reveal that as of Friday, there were 88,521 people behind bars, surpassing previous records and reflecting a sharp rise in the incarcerated population over the past month. This increase is believed to be largely driven by a surge in remand cases and recent sentencing following widespread unrest across parts of the country.
The Government’s temporary release scheme, set to come into effect on September 10, is part of broader efforts to address overcrowding, which has pushed the prison system to the brink of collapse. In addition to the early release plan, there are reports that the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is exploring more drastic measures, including leasing prison space in Estonia to house British inmates.
Justice Secretary Ms. Shabana Mahmood is expected to meet her Estonian counterpart, Liisa Pakosta, to discuss the possibility of sending inmates to Estonia in the short term. The Government is reportedly investigating “all viable options” to create space in overcrowded UK prisons.
Home Office Minister Dame Angela Eagle did not deny reports of the potential international agreement, stating, “The last government closed loads of prison places and didn’t replace any of them, so I think that colleagues in the MoJ will be considering anything that they can to alleviate the problem.
Government sources have acknowledged that the rising prison population has left the system on the edge, with many men’s prisons nearing capacity. In recent weeks, judges have reportedly been advised to avoid sending offenders to prison for low-level crimes in an effort to ease overcrowding.
As the prison population crisis intensifies, the early release scheme and potential international agreements may offer temporary relief. However, the long-term challenges of overcrowding remain, and the Government is under pressure to find lasting solutions to prevent the system from reaching its breaking point.
