What's happened
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced plans to release over 5,000 prisoners early in the UK to tackle the overcrowding crisis in jails. The release scheme aims to avert the collapse of the criminal justice system due to prisons operating at 99% capacity. Violent offenders serving more than four years, sex offenders, and those with terror-related offences will not be included in the scheme.
Why it matters
The decision to release thousands of prisoners early in the UK is crucial to address the overcrowding crisis in jails and prevent the collapse of the criminal justice system. This emergency measure highlights the severity of the situation and the urgent need for action to maintain law and order.
What the papers say
The Mirror reports that Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood criticized the Tory Government for failing to address the prison crisis, while The Independent highlights the exemption of violent and sex offenders from the early release scheme. Sky News paints a bleak picture of the consequences of inaction, warning of looters and a breakdown of law and order.
How we got here
The UK's prisons have been operating at 99% capacity, leading to an overcrowding crisis. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood's announcement of releasing prisoners early is a response to avert the collapse of the criminal justice system. The scheme aims to provide relief to the strained prison system and prevent potential chaos.
Common question
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Shabana Mahmood is a British Labour Party politician and barrister serving as the Member of Parliament for Birmingham, Ladywood since 2010. She has served in the Shadow Cabinet of Keir Starmer as the Labour Party National Campaign Coordinator since 2021.
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The Labour Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom that has been described as an alliance of social democrats, democratic socialists and trade unionists.
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