Labour's Plan to Tackle Prison Overcrowding

Labour Pledges to Build More Prison Space

Labour has promised to address the issue of overcrowding in prisons by cutting through red tape and constructing more cells. The party plans to designate jails as sites of national importance, allowing them to bypass local council regulations and approve the building of new wings. This move is aimed at creating an additional 20,000 spaces for inmates.

Ex-Officer Speaks Out

A former prison officer, Sally Jameson, who resigned from her position at HMP Moorland in Doncaster to run as a Labour candidate, highlighted the challenges faced due to overcrowding. Jameson mentioned the strain on staff to accommodate more inmates, leading to the doubling up of cells. She emphasized the urgent need to cut through bureaucratic red tape to alleviate the pressure on prison staff.

Labour's Critique of the Current Situation

Shadow Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood criticized the government for failing to address the overcrowding crisis in prisons, referring to it as a "powder keg waiting to explode." Labour aims to fulfill the prison expansion promises that were made by the Tories but never materialized. Mahmood stressed the importance of taking action to prevent the dangerous consequences of overcrowded prisons.