UK Government Considers Sending Offenders to Estonian Prisons to Reduce Overcrowding
The UK government is considering sending prisoners to Estonia to help ease overcrowding in British prisons. The Ministry of Justice is exploring all possible options, as there are currently just over 1,000 spaces left in prisons across England and Wales. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has warned that if no action is taken, the overcrowding could cause serious issues in the justice system.
Last month, the number of available spaces in male prisons dropped to just 100, raising concerns that the prison system could soon run out of capacity. To free up space, the government has already introduced some controversial measures, such as allowing prisoners to be released early after serving 40% of their sentences rather than the usual 50%.
The idea of sending prisoners to Estonia is one of several options being considered. This suggestion was first made by the former justice secretary, Alex Chalk, who proposed renting prison space in European countries like Belgium and Norway, which have done so in the past with the Netherlands. The UK government would only agree to such deals if the conditions in foreign prisons met British standards for facilities and rehabilitation.
The current justice system is under immense pressure, and the new government, led by Labour, is facing the challenge of finding ways to manage the overcrowding crisis. Home Office Minister Dame Angela Eagle stated that all options are on the table, including using prisons abroad to ensure dangerous criminals remain behind bars.
Magistrates have also been advised to delay sentencing in some cases due to the lack of prison space. The government is committed to finding a solution to increase prison capacity and protect public safety.
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