The newly published Independent Prison Capacity Review sets out the growth of the prison population crisis, the various responses from different governments and the costs subsequently entailed.

The prison capacity crisis is described as ‘a symptom of a systemic and long-running problem: the apparently irresistible pressure for more and longer prison sentences coming up against the immovable object of the difficulty, expense and overall effectiveness of building and running more prisons.’

The report aims to “set up and reinforce systems that do not just signal problems and approaching crises – but stimulate preventive action to avoid them.”

Recommendations include a ten-year strategy for developing prison and probation capacity, an independent monitoring body to assess the impact of any changes to the Criminal Justice System on prison capacity, a better-resourced probation service and investment in housing, employment, mental health, drug and alcohol treatment services.