Labour has launched a bold plan to tackle the UK’s prison overcrowding nightmare by promising to add 14,000 extra prison places. The party criticised the Conservative government for years of inaction on the issue.
Shadow Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood revealed that Labour would designate prisons as “of national importance” from day one. This status would allow ministers to fast-track planning decisions, bypassing local authorities and speeding up construction. The goal is to create 20,000 new prison places overall and ease the deadly congestion in the prison system.
Mahmood rejected claims that funding was the main obstacle to progress. She said, “The money is there inside the Ministry of Justice budget. The real problem is red tape and backbench grumbles slowing everything down.”
Her comments come amid alarming reports of ten inmate deaths at Parc Prison in Bridgend since February, which underscore the urgent need for action to improve prison conditions.
The Conservative party responded by insisting they are already delivering the largest prison estate expansion since Victorian times. Despite this, Labour remains firm in its commitment to addressing overcrowding.
In addition to prison reform, Labour’s manifesto includes promises to establish 80 new specialist rape courts across England and Wales, create dedicated rape units within police forces, and introduce new laws to protect shop workers from violence.
Originally published by UKNIP.
