Visegrád 24(@visegrad24):UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has defended a controversial early-release scheme that includes killers, rapists and child sex offenders, saying Britain’s prisons are so close to running out of space that the entire criminal justice system risk collapse. Mahmood said the decision was “unpalatable” but necessary, warning that without sufficient prison capacity, police could ultimately be unable to make arrests and courts could be prevented from holding trials.

2026.08.29 18:10

UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has defended a controversial early-release scheme that includes killers, rapists and child sex offenders, saying Britain’s prisons are so close to running out of space that the entire criminal justice system risk collapse. Mahmood said the decision was “unpalatable” but necessary, warning that without sufficient prison capacity, police could ultimately be unable to make arrests and courts could be prevented from holding trials.