UK Prisons Set to Reach Capacity by 2026, Adding 100 Inmates Per Week Despite Early Release of Thousands

Prisons in England and Wales are projected to reach full capacity by early 2026, despite the early release of thousands of inmates. Internal forecasts from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) indicate that the inmate population is increasing by nearly 100 individuals per week. Former prison governor Ian Acheson has warned that the situation is dire, stating, 'we’re going to go bust in terms of prison space by 2026,' attributing the crisis to overcrowding that has delayed trials. The government had promised to create 20,000 new prison places but has only delivered 6,500, resulting in a shortfall of 13,500 places, five years behind schedule and costing £4.2 billion. This failure is leading to calls for further early releases of prisoners, as highlighted by the Byline Times, which suggests that the overcrowding crisis could compel Labour leader Keir Starmer to take such measures.