Displaying items by tag: prison overcrowding

A system error has led to the mistaken early release of 37 prisoners jailed for breaching restraining orders, sparking serious concerns about public safety. The issue arose because some offenders were incorrectly logged under outdated legislation, which meant that they were included in the government's early release plan. While most of the prisoners have been returned to custody, five remain at large. Victims have been notified of the error, and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has halted further releases affected by this issue. Although some expressed alarm at the potential danger to domestic abuse survivors, the MoJ reassured the public that actions are being taken to prevent future errors and return the remaining offenders to custody. The early release scheme was designed to alleviate overcrowding in prisons, but the mishap has raised critical concerns about the system’s reliability.

Hundreds of court hearings have been postponed due to a worsening prison crisis. The Government has triggered emergency measures under Operation Early Dawn, causing defendants to remain in police custody instead of being transferred to magistrates' courts for bail hearings. This contingency allows defendants to be held in police cells until prison beds are available, leading to last-minute delays and adjournments. Justice officials have not confirmed the number of affected cases but emphasised the measures aim to limit disruption. Labour criticised the government for 'stalling justice' and leaving victims in limbo. Legal bodies expressed concern about the real-life consequences of these delays. The government blamed prison capacity issues on backlogs from the pandemic and the 2022 barrister’s strike. However, prisons watchdog Charlie Taylor called the situation 'entirely predictable,' and legal representatives described the scenario as 'administrative carnage.' The Magistrates’ Association and other legal experts have urged the government to provide more resources in the justice system to prevent further delays and inefficiencies. The emergency measures are expected to last a week.

Judges in England and Wales have been instructed to delay sentencing hearings due to overcrowded prisons. There are concerns that convicted criminals may avoid jail time because of the lack of available prison space. Lord Edis, the senior presiding judge, has directed that sentencing for individuals on bail should be postponed, starting next week. The Government is also considering early releases as a measure to manage the growing prison population. The prison system is operating under intense pressure, with projections indicating that the population will exceed the number of operational prison places by November. Shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood criticised the government's handling of the prison system, labelling it a ‘damning indictment’. Security minister Tom Tugendhat emphasised that those convicted of serious crimes would still go to prison for extended periods, citing the government's commitment to increasing prison capacity. The government is even exploring the possibility of renting prison cells overseas to address overcrowding.