UK’s overcrowded prisons mapped as 1,700 prisoners freed – see your nearest
Britain’s prisons are a little emptier today, after 1,700 inmates were let out of prison early as the government battles with an overcrowding issue – and our map reveals just how crammed these prisons are.
Data from the Ministry of Justice indicates that in July, there were 87,479 offenders incarcerated across England and Wales, a mere 1,383 below the operational capacity – the number of spaces required to house different categories of prisoners based on age, sex, security level, and conviction status.
With less than 80,000 cells at their disposal, a significant number of these prisoners are forced to share living quarters.
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(Image: Western Mail)
The statistics reveal that HMP Durham is the country’s most congested prison. In July, it housed 984 inmates with only 573 usable cells available. This implies that, compared to the “certified normal standard” of one inmate per cell, the prison was operating at 172% capacity.
Durham has an operational capacity of 985, exceeding the number of available cells, indicating its potential for “crowding”, hence some inmates may have to share cells. The prison’s operational capacity was only one more than the number of inmates accommodated in July, although some might have been on authorised absence, such as if an inmate was ill and required hospital treatment.
(Image: Getty Images)
You can check out how crowded the prisons near your location are using our interactive map.
Under the early release scheme, approximately 5,500 prisoners are projected to be released early in September and October alone, including 1,700 on the first day. Burglars, shoplifters, and fraudsters serving short sentences are among those predicted to be released early. The scheme will apply to most prisons except high security (Cat A) ones, with varying numbers being released from each.
The plan is set for review in 18 months.
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Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated she was compelled to activate the emergency measure “to avert a disaster” as there are only around 1,000 jail places left. The Labour minister blamed the previous Government for not addressing capacity issues in prisons across England and Wales. This implies that prisoners who have been sentenced to four years or less could be released after completing 40% of their original sentence.
The most overcrowded prisons in England and Wales, by percentage of overcrowding, are:
- Leeds 171%
- Lincoln 162%
- Bedford 160%
- Wandsworth 157%
- Preston 157%
- Doncaster 154%
- Altcourse 152%
- Exeter 147%
- Swansea 143%
- Brixton 143%
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