The UK Government plans to create 14,000 new prison cell spaces by 2031, addressing overcrowding with a £2.3 billion investment over the next two years.
London: The UK Government is stepping up to tackle the overcrowding crisis in prisons. They’re planning to build four new prisons over the next seven years. This is part of a larger goal to create 14,000 new cell spaces by 2031.
To fund this, they’re putting £2.3 billion into the project over the next two years. Out of the 14,000 spaces, about 6,400 will come from these new prisons. The rest will be added by expanding existing facilities or fixing up old cells.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood pointed out that the previous government had promised more prisons but failed to deliver. She emphasized that this new strategy is crucial for keeping dangerous criminals off the streets.
They’re also planning to speed up the process of building these prisons by designating them as “national importance.” This means they can avoid lengthy planning delays and even buy new land for future projects.
Recent estimates show that by 2029, more than 100,000 prisoners could be in jails across England and Wales. This comes after warnings that the current plans might not meet the growing demand for cell spaces.
To manage the overcrowding, the government has been releasing some inmates early. They’ve reduced the time some prisoners need to serve from 50% to 40%. But even with these measures, prisons are expected to hit critical capacity again soon.
As of now, there are over 86,000 adult prisoners in England and Wales, with the operational capacity being just under 89,000. So, there’s a bit of a squeeze going on.
Interestingly, a recent report highlighted issues at HMP Kirkham in Lancashire, where boredom is leading to increased drug use among inmates. The prison has the highest drug use rates in open jails, with many inmates expressing frustration.
The Ministry of Justice acknowledged the challenges they’ve inherited and stressed their commitment to tackling the drug problem in prisons. They’re determined to make these facilities places where offenders can truly turn their lives around.
However, there’s some pushback from opposition parties. Labour criticized the previous government for neglecting the prison system, while others argue that simply building more prisons isn’t the solution. They believe it’s essential to explore alternatives to incarceration and invest in community programs.
Overall, the government’s plan is ambitious, and it’ll be interesting to see how it unfolds in the coming years.