Prisons in England and Wales are currently full, a situation attributed to increased sentencing. The prison population has grown substantially, from 40,000 in 1991 to 88,000 in 2024. Projections indicate this number will rise further, reaching an estimated 105,000 by 2028.
Despite government promises to increase capacity, no administration this century has been able to expand fast enough to manage the growing numbers. A prisons inspector previously likened the situation to an overflowing bath, suggesting the need to either reduce the inflow or release some water.
The introduction of an early release scheme faced public opposition. Andy Burnham, among others, is urged to consider that current sentences may be too high. The purpose of prison is understood to be threefold: punishment, public protection, and rehabilitation, all of which are dependent on complementary conditions.