The Labour government has not planned or approved any new prisons since taking office in July 2024, despite acknowledging a crisis of prison overcrowding and implementing early release schemes. A written parliamentary answer from Justice Minister Jake Richards confirmed that no new jail construction has been planned or approved since Keir Starmer moved into Number 10.
Ministers had previously sounded the alarm regarding the lack of prison places, attributing the issue to the previous Conservative administration. However, the current government has not outlined proposals for new jail construction.
Under a Prison Capacity Strategy announced in December 2024, Labour aimed to create 14,000 additional prison places by 2031. This plan included provision for 'four new prisons.' However, these sites were originally announced by the Conservatives in June 2020. One of these, HMP Millsike, has already opened. HMP Welland Oaks is slated to open in 2029, while construction has not yet commenced on the remaining two facilities.
The early release scheme, which allows thousands of prisoners to be freed after serving just a third of their sentences, has drawn significant criticism. In response to public outcry, Andy Burnham, a minister, stated he was now confident that the murderers of PC Andrew Harper would remain incarcerated. The scheme has been a point of contention, with Burnham reportedly seeking exemptions for individuals convicted of serious crimes, including rapists and killers of police officers.
Adding to the capacity concerns, approximately 1,800 prison cells are currently lying empty due to fire hazards. Gemma Abbott, legal director of the Howard League for Penal Reform, highlighted that fire safety issues have been acknowledged for over two decades, resulting in multiple fire-related deaths in public prisons. Abbott emphasized that both inmates and staff are exposed to significant fire safety risks, a situation that should not be overshadowed by the chaos surrounding the early release scheme.
Prisons Minister Catherine McKinnell, appointed on July 21, has faced accusations of remaining silent on the early release crisis and subsequent government U-turns. Shortly after the media inquired about her involvement, McKinnell posted on social media about visits to a court and a prison, stating, 'Three weeks. Four visits. A lot of conversations.'