Andy Burnham stated on Monday that he was “increasingly confident” that Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, convicted of manslaughter in 2020, would not be released in the new year. Bowers and Cole were jailed for 13 years.
To ensure they serve their full sentences, Mr Burnham has asked Justice Secretary Alex Norris to investigate three methods for increasing prison capacity. These options are accelerating the deportation of foreign offenders, releasing female prisoners from jail, and reviewing indefinite sentences for “lower-risk” prisoners.
According to Ministry of Justice figures, 10,134 foreign nationals were held in prisons in England and Wales at the end of June 2026. However, Andrew Neilson, director of campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said that reciprocal agreements with other countries would take time to establish, meaning this would not provide immediate relief to the capacity crisis. Tom Wheatley, president of the Prison Governors’ Association, noted difficulties in deporting foreign offenders, including many not wanting to leave and being undocumented.
The option of emptying women’s prisons and using them for men has been examined by previous governments. HMP Bronzefield in Ashford, Surrey, could potentially be converted to a men's jail, freeing over 500 spaces. However, Mr Wheatley stated that many women’s prisons would not meet the security standards required for male prisoners.
Imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences, abolished in 2012, still apply to over 2,200 people in prison. Around 70% of IPP prisoners are in category C or D prisons, indicating the system does not view them as a high risk. Mr Neilson said that identifying these individuals and providing necessary support would not be a quick solution for freeing up space.