To combat prison overcrowding, UK releases offenders

It is a spectacular measure taken this week in England and Wales: 1,700 prisoners were released before the end of their sentence.

Faced with record prison overcrowding, the British government took matters into its own hands: the release of offenders. It must be said that, in mid-September, with some 88,521 prisoners, this is indeed a milestone that had never been reached in the United Kingdom.

If the prisons were already overcrowded before the summer, there were far-right riots in about twenty cities, with dozens of arrests, immediate appearances and prison sentences. Result: the situation, already complicated, has become untenable. Hence these 1700 prisoners released before the end of their sentence, this week, with scenes… surprising.

Clusters of prisoners, carrying their bundles on their shoulders, were seen leaving the penitentiary where they had been locked up until then.

Some say they will soon be back in prison, others joke that they will vote Labour.”all their lives”since this is the political color of the current government. Important clarification: the people released were sentenced to less than 5 years in prison and had already served at least 40% of their sentence.

Obviously, this decision is causing a stir. Firstly among those who are worried about a resurgence in delinquency. The authorities assure that they are well aware of the risk of reoffending for many now ex-prisoners, but the national head of prisons says that “the government had no choice“. Concern, too, for these delinquents, some of whom have no resources and no one to support them. They risk ending up on the streets.

So the question is: how did the UK find itself in this situation? First, the sentences are longer. In ten years, it is estimated that they have been extended by about 25%. Which obviously means more prisoners at the same time.

The authorities planned to build 20,000 new prison places. Announcement made by the Conservatives in 2021, the majority at the time. Except that only 6,000 places were built. Labour, now in power, says it wants to continue, but without setting a timetable.

Finally, there is the congestion of the courts. Due to a lack of resources, they are unable to process all the cases quickly and preventive detentions are more frequent and, above all, longer. More than 16,000 prisoners were awaiting trial last March. A sad record.