The British Government will release another 1,100 prisoners on Tuesday whose sentences have been reduced by 40% due to prison overcrowding. This is the second time this emergency measure has been applied, initially decreed in mid-September when the prison population in England and Wales exceeded the "ceiling" of 87,000 prisoners, 93% more than 30 years ago.
"We will ensure that something like this does not happen again," warned Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who blamed the explosive prison situation on the recent conservative governments. Her department is developing a ten-year plan, including measures such as judges being able to impose home detention as an alternative to prison.
Prisoners eligible for early release have sentences exceeding five years. Those convicted of violent crimes, sexual assault, or domestic abuse have been excluded, although in the first early release in mid-September, there were several cases of reoffending within days.
The emergency measure, supported by most unions and experts, has been strongly criticized by conservative media. In a personal attack against the British Government, Elon Musk even wrote on his X account: "I don't think anyone should go to the UK when they are releasing pedophiles to make room in prisons for those who post on social media."
"In Rehabilitation Process"
Justice Secretary Mahmood told the BBC that the majority of prisoners released to date are "in open prison regime and in the rehabilitation process." Mahmood emphasized that the Government has taken extreme measures in the selection process to prevent prisoners with a history of violence or sexual abuse from benefiting from the measure.
"We will take this opportunity to set a new course," Mahmood declared. "We will ensure there is room in prisons for those who need to be incarcerated, but we will also expand the number of non-custodial sentences."
The emergency plan involves initially releasing 5,500 prison cells in England and Wales to avoid reaching maximum occupancy. The prison population has increased by over 4,000 prisoners annually in the last three decades. Public insecurity, especially knife-related crimes, has surged since the pandemic.
In the meantime, the Starmer Government has tasked former Conservative Justice Secretary David Gauke with reviewing the current prison system and developing a long-term strategy. Gauke, a proponent of comprehensive reform, will present a report with his conclusions next spring.