Prison population in England and Wales reaches six-month high

The prison population in England and Wales has reached 87,556, the highest in six months, despite an early-release scheme aimed at reducing overcrowding. This figure is close to the record of 88,521 set in September 2024. Since the start of 2025, the number of prisoners has increased by 1,938, reversing much of the decline seen at the end of last year. Currently, there are 1,284 available spaces in prisons, with additional contingency spaces kept free. The Public Accounts Committee has warned of potential "total gridlock" in the prison system, predicting it may run out of space again by early 2026. The Ministry of Justice is expected to address these issues in an upcoming independent sentencing review.