Overcrowding Crisis Threatens Safety, As Calls Grow for Immediate Measures from Government

Prison governors in England and Wales have issued a stark warning that jails could run out of space within “days”, putting public safety at risk. The Prison Governors’ Association (PGA), representing over 95% of prison managers, has described the criminal justice system as being on the brink of failure and urged the government to take urgent action to address the overcrowding crisis.

As of Friday, the prison population stood at 87,395, with a “usable operational capacity” of 88,778—leaving just under 1,500 spaces available. However, with around 1,350 contingency spaces reserved for emergencies, the available capacity is significantly limited. The PGA is calling on the next government to release more prisoners early to manage the crisis, suggesting that the prison system should ideally hold no more than 78,000 inmates.

In response, the government has expanded a scheme to allow some prisoners to be released up to 70 days early in an attempt to alleviate the pressure on jails. However, concerns have been raised that this may lead to the early release of dangerous criminals, with strict supervision conditions in place.

The warning comes after a threat from the prison officers’ union, which had said it could pursue legal action if overcrowding worsens. The union’s general secretary, Steve Gillan, warned that without drastic action, the prison service could collapse, leaving the criminal justice system struggling to function. He suggested that emergency laws may be necessary to free non-violent offenders and ease pressure on the system, with prisons expected to reach full capacity within weeks.

The Ministry of Justice is working on plans to build six new prisons to create 20,000 additional spaces, and some 6,000 spaces have already been added. Despite these efforts, critics argue that the government’s failure to manage overcrowding is exacerbating delays in the court system, with cases taking longer to be heard and some trials now postponed until 2026.

While the Conservative Party defends its prison expansion plans, Labour has accused the government of “staggering chaos” and promised to focus on building new prisons and reducing reoffending if elected. The growing crisis calls for immediate and significant action to prevent further strain on the criminal justice system and ensure public safety.