The UK holds the unenviable distinction of having the highest prison population in western Europe. Which is in part why the senior presiding judge for England and Wales, Lord Justice Edis, recently instructed judges to delay sentencing those convicted and on bail as our crumbling prisons are full.
This dire situation can be improved, but it requires three essential measures.
First, the government must address the drivers of crime, breaking the trend of ever-growing prisoner numbers at ever-increasing public cost. This means supporting people in crisis through healthcare, education and housing; homelessness, for example, calls for support not criminalisation.
For those who commit non-violent offences, a greater emphasis on community-based solutions rather than short sentences is both practical and humane.
It is welcome that the government is moving in this direction. Sending these people to prison often does more harm than good, by isolating them from their families, employment and essential support networks. This more rehabilitative approach will ease overcrowding and, by addressing the root causes of criminal behaviour, reduce reoffending. The result? Less crime, fewer victims, and far less money wasted on a failing prison system.
Advertisement
Second, we must recognise that most people in prison will ultimately return to society. They must be given tools to break the cycle of crime.
Overcrowding and staff shortages contribute to a grim environment where people spend most of their time locked away in cells without any meaningful activity. It is no surprise that a German court last month refused to extradite a man to Britain because of the state of our prisons.
Spitting people out with no new skills and worse mental health is a recipe for sky-high reoffending. By boosting access to education, housing and healthcare, we can empower people to build law-abiding, constructive futures.
Third, the parole system must modernise. The Victims and Prisoners Bill threatens to further strain a Parole Board already facing serious challenges. Denounced by victims’ organisations and prison reformers alike, these proposals allow the justice secretary to overturn the decisions of what is, in practice, an independent court.
This is both unworkable — meaning more people kept locked up solely because of a bureaucratic backlog, costing up to £1.3 billion over 10 years — and highly risky, landing the Ministry of Justice with unpopular decisions better suited to a judicial body.
Advertisement
Instead, the Parole Board must have the powers and independence it needs to do its job. This would reduce prison numbers and strengthen public confidence.
These measures would save taxpayer money and build a safer, fairer society. It is high time we break this vicious cycle and pioneer a system that is world-leading for the right reasons.
Tyrone Steele is the legal director at the campaign group Justice
