UK government fast-tracks £110m to build more prison cells in England and Wales

The UK Ministry of Justice announced on Monday that £110m has been fast-tracked from existing budgets to speed up the construction of hundreds of new prison places in England and Wales. The money will be used to convert unused spaces like offices, laundry rooms, and storage areas into cells. This is part of a broader £7bn capital investment to create 14,000 prison places by 2031. The announcement comes as the prison system is near maximum capacity, with the government facing criticism over its early release scheme. Justice Secretary Alex Norris said the government is 'getting spades in the ground quicker' to deliver more places. The government also plans to update Parliament on sentencing reforms, including blocking more dangerous offenders from early release, removing foreign national offenders more quickly, and addressing IPP sentences. An additional £18.9m for victim services was also announced. The Conservatives criticized the move, noting there are 700 fewer prison places than a year ago and warning that dangerous criminals could be released early. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has excluded manslaughter convicts from early release, but some IPP prisoners and foreign nationals may be released or deported to free up space.