Prisons on the verge of collapse in Great Britain: controversy over the early release of thousands of prisoners

Between September 2024 and June 2025, 38,000 prisoners had their sentences reduced, after completing 40 percent of them.

More radical measures are now expected, in another attempt to relieve overcrowded prisons. But on his second day in power, the new British prime minister had to commit to reviewing his plan. because the relatives of the victims are protesting.

The conservatives in their government gave heavier sentences, increased sentences and prisons became overcrowded. Today they are the prime minister’s headache. In 2024, 13,000 places were free, but 12,500 cells were impossible to use due to their condition.

Former Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak introduced an early release scheme in October 2023. At least 13,000 prisoners were released. His successor, Labor’s former Crown Solicitor Sir Keir Starmer, allowed prisoners who had served 40 per cent of their sentences to go free.

The British prison population increases by 3,000 more prisoners annually and They will reach 112,300 according to projections for 2030.

A study by the Ministry of Justice analyzed the impact and said that it will not be possible to hold trials, nor for the police to make arrests, and it will be a breakdown of order if this level of prison population is reached.

The judicial blueprint, which was written by former Labor justice secretary David Lammy during the Starmer government, was to free prisoners and create sentences to be served in the community.

The measure is going to generate great controversy in the new government because Those released will be those who have served 33 percent of their sentence and then they will be monitored by an officer. At least 700 prisoners will be released in September. The Ministry of Justice considers that, in 2028, it will be able to free up places in prisons.

Labor did not specify which category of offenders could be released. It will be applied to sexual predators, domestic abusers and even those accused of circumstantial homicide until now. There are no differences.

The three murderers of Andrew Harper, a police officer, have been convicted and are to be released. His wife Lissie has started a campaign to stop this measure.

It is expected that thousands of prisoners, including more than 100 convicted rapists, will be eligible for parole starting in September, within the framework of measures aimed at alleviating overcrowding in UK prisons, according to an analysis by the Conservative Party.

The analysis indicates that 2,462 offenders could benefit from this program, which would allow certain inmates to leave prison after serving half their sentence instead of two-thirds, as long as they have not committed serious disciplinary offenses during their imprisonment.

The topic has once again gained relevance. The prime minister is studying ways to prevent convicted sex offenders and pedophiles from profiting of probation measures.

Labour’s justice spokesman Nick Timothy criticized the policy, saying: “It is outrageous that the Labor Party is going to release thousands of rapists and pedophiles.”

“Despite the heartbreaking testimony of the victims, forced to live in fear and uncertainty, ministers continue defending the indefensible”, he added.

According to the report, the Ministry of Justice has sent letters to 8,711 victims of serious violent and sexual crimes informing them that those responsible for crimes such as rape, murder and serious bodily harm could be released early under the revised regulations.

The letters acknowledged that the information “may be difficult” to receive and acknowledged “the lasting impact the crime may have had on you.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice defended the measure, stating that the government is addressing the prison capacity crisis by expanding prison infrastructure and sentencing reform.

“This government is solving the prison crisis it inherited: building 14,000 additional prison places and reforming sentences so that we can always imprison dangerous criminals,” the spokesperson declared.

“Without this decisive measure, prisons will completely run out of space already in November and we will not be able to imprison the most dangerous criminals. The criminals who a judge has considered the most dangerous are automatically excluded from prison“, they assured.