Review finds that prison system was days from collapse on three occasions

The criminal justice system was within days of collapse on three occasions before being bailed out by "last-minute emergency measures", an independent review by a former prisons watchdog has found.

- Rajeev Syal

Dame Anne Owers said the prison system under pressure from overcrowding was "in crisis" between autumn 2023 and the summer of 2024, but No 10 under Rishi Sunak refused to cut the numbers in jail until "the next predictable cliff-edge".

The 25-page report into the Prison Service, which remains at nearly 97.5% capacity, comes as the criminal justice system is expected to be under renewed pressure.

Police have warned that they could arrest hundreds of people who plan to express support for Palestine Action on Saturday. Forces fear more incidents among people protesting outside hotels housing asylum seekers across Greater London, the north-east and East Anglia.

The review, commissioned by the lord chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, in February, detailed claims that Sunak's office waited until prisons were days from collapsing before acting - to the dismay of some ministers.