Judges ‘told not to lock up convicted rapists and burglars because prisons are full’
JUDGES have been told not to lock up convicted rapists and burglars because prisons are full, it is claimed.
Officials are also to announce an early-release scheme for lags near the end of sentences as jails approach “bursting point”.
Lord Edis, Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales, has “ordered/strongly encouraged” crown court judges to delay sentencing from Monday, one judge told .
The edict means the offenders would remain on bail after being convicted of their crimes.
The judge said their “biggest concern” was people charged with rape and other sexual crimes would fall into that category.
A source said prisons were full because more people were being jailed, and for longer.
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They added: “It’s embarrassing but releasing people early and speaking to judges are the only options.
"The Government said it was going to build more spaces but that’s not been done quickly enough.”
They also said early releases would be non-high-risk prisoners near the end of their term.
A plan to use holding cells at magistrates’ courts for those remanded in custody for the most serious crimes has also been discussed.
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There were 88,016 inmates in jails in England and Wales on October 6, the Home Office said.
The operational capacity is 88,667 but the prison population could hit 106,300 by March 2027, experts predict.
The Ministry of Justice said “rapid deployment cells” and “doubling up cells” were helping ease the “unprecedented” problem, adding that 20,000 new cells are being built.