UK Sentencing Review Explores Open Prisons to Ease Overcrowding

David Gauke, leading the government’s sentencing review, advocates for expanded use of open prisons to reduce costs and reoffending rates while tackling the growing prison population crisis.

The UK’s prison system faces severe overcrowding, with the current population nearing its operational capacity of 88,688 and projections indicating further increases by 2027.
David Gauke, former justice secretary, recommends greater use of open prisons, citing successful examples from Spain where 25% of prisoners are in open facilities compared to 6% in England and Wales.
Open prisons allow low-risk inmates to work or study outside during the day, which studies suggest reduces reoffending rates and saves significant costs compared to traditional prisons.
The Ministry of Justice plans to add 14,000 cell spaces by 2031, but both Gauke and current Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood argue that building more prisons alone will not resolve the crisis.
The sentencing review, expected to deliver recommendations in the spring, may propose alternatives such as expanded community sentences, house arrests, and electronic tagging to address overcrowding strategically.