Current available spaces in male prisons across England and Wales have dropped below 1,800, marking the lowest point since March. Over 83,000 spaces are occupied, despite government efforts to reduce overcrowding by limiting short-term sentences and considering early releases.
The Ministry of Justice is addressing the situation by planning new prison constructions and exploring electronic tagging. However, the high rate of offenders being recalled for license breaches has countered some of the intended benefits of these measures.