Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 24
24
Accepted
Prison estate under exceptional pressure, with significant population increases projected by 2027.
Conclusion
MoJ told us several times that the prison estate is under “exceptional” pressure to meet current demands on capacity.60 At the end of March 2023, the prison population was at around 99% (84,400) of safe capacity (85,500).61 While projections are uncertain, the MoJ expects significant increases in the prison population in the near term, primarily due to the impact of higher demand caused by increases in the number of police officers and increases in the duration of serious offenders’ prison sentences. MoJ forecasts that the prison population could reach somewhere in the range of 93,100 to 106,300 by March 2027, an increase of 10% to 26% compared to March 2023.62
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's observation and commits to providing projections for the prison population, plans for six new prisons, and resettlement service demand. They will also publish an annual statement on prison capacity, future demand, and a scrutinised build pipeline.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: May 2024 6.2 The MoJ will respond to the Committee by the six-month deadline, setting out the projections for its prison population, bringing six new prisons online, and the level of demand for resettlement services. 6.3 In addition, the department will be publishing a new annual statement into prison capacity and an update on prison build, as announced to Parliament on 16 October 2023. This will include a clear statement of current prison capacity, future demand, and a forward pipeline of prison build, which will be independently scrutinised. Following publication of the annual statement, HMPPS will write to the Committee with further information in response to the recommendation above. 6.4 The department will also consider the level of demand for resettlement services alongside the National Audit Office report recommendation for longer term strategy on resettlement provisions.