UK Expands Early Prisoner Release to Tackle Overcrowding Crisis

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk announces emergency measures, including the early release of certain offenders, to prevent prisons from exceeding capacity.

Male prisons in England and Wales are at 99.7% capacity, with fewer than 250 spaces left.
The early release scheme, the largest in nearly 20 years, could see eligible prisoners freed up to 60 days early.
Around 40,000 prisoners are eligible for early release, excluding sex offenders, terrorists, and violent offenders serving over four years.
The government aims to reduce the number of foreign prisoners by refusing visas and speeding up deportations.
Labour criticizes the government's approach, arguing it puts the public at risk and lacks transparency.