Jails in England and Wales are on the brink of running out of space, posing a significant risk to public safety, according to the Prison Governors’ Association (PGA), which represents 95% of prison governors in the region.
In an urgent letter to political leaders, the PGA warns that police officers will soon be unable to detain individuals due to the lack of available prison cells. The letter, states: “The entire criminal justice system stands on the precipice of failure.”
A government spokesperson has responded, emphasizing that public safety will remain the top priority.
‘Deeply Troubling’
The latest Ministry of Justice figures, published on Friday, show that jails currently hold 87,395 inmates, with the total number of spaces standing at 88,778. The PGA letter, expected to be published later on Tuesday, insists that immediate action is necessary: “Procrastination is not an option – this is happening now.”
With limited space for detained prisoners, cell spaces in courts and police custody suites are expected to fill up quickly. This congestion could exacerbate the court backlog, leaving the criminal justice system unable to function effectively.
Sources within the Ministry of Justice have indicated that officials and ministers are discussing the possibility of invoking the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. This act grants ministers additional powers, such as early release of inmates, in the event of a large-scale emergency. However, sources suggest that such measures will not be implemented until after the election, if at all.
A senior official described the situation in prisons as “dire” and “deeply troubling.”
‘Immediate Change’
Last month, the government introduced an emergency measure called Operation Early Dawn to alleviate some of the overcrowding. This involved keeping some defendants in police custody for longer or releasing them on bail.
The PGA’s letter calls for an immediate change in legislation, proposing that all prisoners be routinely released after serving 40% of their sentence. This measure, the PGA insists, must be applied retrospectively to all current inmates.
Planning Decisions
Both major political parties have pledged to build more prisons. The Conservatives have committed to completing their programme of 20,000 new spaces by 2030 by eliminating what they describe as EU legacy rules. Labour, if elected, plans to create 20,000 prison places by allowing ministers to override local authorities on planning decisions.
In a statement, the government acknowledged the pressing issue and said: “The police and prison service have long-established processes to manage short-term capacity issues.” The spokesperson added, “The Civil Service is working closely with partners across the justice system to make sure we have the prison places needed to keep people safe.”
