Spaces in male prisons fall to lowest level of year

The number of available male prison spaces in England and Wales has fallen to its lowest this year, with about 1,500 free spaces as of September.

Justice Secretary Alex Norris is due to give more details on the early-release scheme in the Commons later today.

The government plans to create more cells in existing prisons by converting unused office space, laundry rooms, and storage space into cells using an investment of £110m.

The number of available male prison spaces has been steadily falling since June, with the last official figures released on August 24 placing them at 1,665.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced changes to the scheme, which will mean more prisoners being held behind bars for longer.

The government has said it would create more cells in existing prisons in England and Wales as part of its plans to tackle overcrowding. An investment of £110m, which will come from existing budgets, will be used to convert unused office space, laundry rooms and storage space into cells, the MoJ said.

Under the early release scheme some 4,500 prisoners are now expected to start being let out of prison in tranches from October. On Sunday, the prime minister told BBC Breakfast anyone convicted of manslaughter would be excluded from the scheme, following a campaign from PC Andrew Harper's family to block the release of two men convicted over his killing in 2019.

Extra prison space would also be created by deporting more foreign prisoners and releasing some inmates serving indefinite sentences. Government figures show there were 10,134 foreign nationals held in custody on 30 June, 3,283 of whom were on remand and would not be eligible for deportation.

In the year to June, 5,962 foreign offenders were sent back to their home countries - the highest rate of deportations since 2017 and a 12% increase on the previous year. Burnham gets the early prison release changes he wanted - but at what cost? Killed a month after his wedding - why PC Andrew Harper's story touched so many

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