UK Prisons Face Overcrowding Crisis with Space Predicted to Run Out by 2026

A parliamentary report reveals systemic failures in expanding prison capacity, forcing early releases and jeopardizing rehabilitation efforts.

The prison population in England and Wales is growing by nearly 100 inmates per week, with space expected to run out again by early 2026.
A government promise to build 20,000 new prison places by the mid-2020s fell significantly short, with only 6,500 delivered and full completion delayed until 2031.
Overcrowding has led to early releases, with some prisoners serving only 40% of their sentences, excluding those convicted of serious crimes such as sex offenses and violent acts.
The Public Accounts Committee warns that overcrowded prisons are operating as 'pressure cookers,' with rising violence, self-harm, and deteriorating living conditions for inmates.
Efforts to address the crisis include a sentencing review expected to recommend expanded community-based punishments and virtual 'prisons outside a prison.'