UK Government to Release 40,000 Prisoners Early After Serving 40% of Sentences

Jul 11, 2024, 04:02 PM

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to authorize emergency measures to address the overcrowding crisis in British prisons. The plan includes the early release of up to 40,000 inmates who have served at least 40% of their sentences. This measure aims to alleviate the severe shortage of prison spaces, with fewer than 700 spaces left in men's jails in England and Wales. The new Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, announced that serious violent offenders, sexual offenders, and those convicted of non-terrorist offences will be excluded from early release. The government has also committed to recruiting 1,000 probation officers to manage the transition. Starmer described the situation as worse than expected and blamed the previous administration for the crisis. The measures, set to begin in September, are seen as a necessary step to prevent a total breakdown of law and order, and will include a temporary change in the law.