Starmer told to embrace open prisons in bid to tackle overcrowding crisis – ‘We have run out of space!’

Labour should move thousands of prisoners into low-security open prisons to tackle the overcrowding crisis, a senior Government adviser has said.

David Gauke, the ex-Tory Justice Secretary – and now Labour’s sentencing review leader – is urging Ministers to follow Spain’s example, where a higher proportion of convicted criminals can work and study outside prison during daytime hours.

“We don’t make as much use of open prisons as we might do,” Gauke told The Times. “You might spend part of your day out of a prison working, and then return to sleep at night – if that gets you into the rhythm of working and the disciplines of working then that is helpful.”

The policy would save money whilst better preparing inmates for release, making them less likely to reoffend, Gauke has said.

Currently, only six per cent of prisoners in England and Wales – 5,143 inmates out of 86,000 – are housed in category D open prisons.

This stands in stark contrast to Spain, where 25 per cent of inmates are in open prisons, while Norway’s figure reaches almost a third.

But the current capacity in England and Wales allows for only 1,000 more prisoners in open facilities, meaning a significant expansion would be needed to implement such reforms.

Ministry of Justice figures say that while the average prisoner costs £51,108 annually, those in open prisons cost £27,348.

MORE ON BRITAIN’S PRISONS CRISIS:

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Category D prisons maintain minimal security and allow inmates considered “low-risk” to undertake work or education during the day.

During a December visit to Spanish prisons, Gauke observed a system where good behaviour is actively rewarded with transfers to open facilities.

“There was a real focus on incentives,” he said. “If you engage in the courses, you do the work, you play by the rules, they are much more willing to reward that.”

As a result, prisoners who serve the end of their sentences in Spanish open prisons have a reoffending rate of just 18 per cent, compared to 40 per cent for other former inmates.

His visits included Aranjuez prison near Madrid, known for its “family-friendly” approach, and Lledoners in Catalonia, where open prisons were first pioneered.

“That clarity of focus on preparing people for life outside… there was real attention to detail,” Gauke said.

Gauke is currently leading a review of sentencing policy for the Labour Government, which is set to influence legislative changes by the end of next year.

He said he views this as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to reform prisons, but has acknowledged some measures may prove unpopular.

“We’re at the beginning of a Parliamentary term with the Government with a large majority. We have run out of space,” he said.

His recommendations are expected to include greater use of non-custodial sentences and house arrest, along with expanded electronic tagging.

“This is not about being soft on crime,” Gauke vowed. “It is about more effectively reducing crime.”