In some parts of the UK, the prison population has reached a record high and there are plans to release some prisoners early

Recently, the British government revealed that on September 6, the prison population in England and Wales reached a record high of 88,521, an increase of 171 people compared to a week ago.

The incarceration rate in the UK is among the highest in Western European countries. The slow progress in building new prisons has led to a continuous increase in the prison population, and the prison system is about to face an overloaded state. The British government report had previously predicted that by 2027, the number of prisoners in England and Wales will reach 95,000 to 114,000, exceeding prison capacity by 7% to 28%.

Facing this severe situation, British Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood had already announced as early as July 12 that due to overcrowded prisons and an impending collapse, the UK plans to reduce the minimum time some low-risk prisoners need to serve their sentences and release some prisoners early starting from September. According to the early release plan approved by the British Parliament and set to take effect on September 10, most prisoners will be eligible for release after serving 40% of their sentences. However, criminals convicted of serious violent and sexual crimes of four years or more, as well as criminals imprisoned for domestic violence and related crimes will be automatically excluded from the early release plan.

At present, many prisons in the UK have already placed two prisoners in "single cells". After prisons are full, they will have to use police station cells, which will also affect the normal operation of the police system. British Prime Minister Starmer said that overcrowded prisons are one of the biggest problems facing the new government and blamed it on the "mess" left by the Conservative government. Previously, the Labour Party had promised to complete the construction plan of 14,000 new prison cells before the general election. But at the same time, public opinion believes that the new British government has little room for maneuver in public finances. According to data from the Institute for Government think tank, in the next few years, British prisons will receive 5.9% less budget expenditure per year than the required funds. The implementation effect of this plan and its impact on society remain to be further observed.