'Continuing with this system in crisis mode which offers little opportunity to turn around inmates' lives is false economy'

REPORT REVEALS OVERCROWDING IN PRISONS, STAFF SHORTAGES AND DIRE LIVING CONDITIONS ARE DAMAGING EFFORTS TO CUT REHABILITATION AND REOFFENDING

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THE prison system in crisis mode is risking the ability to rehabilitate offenders and cut crime, a committee of MPs has warned.

In a report published on Friday, they found overcrowding in jails, staff shortages and dire living conditions were among the factors that were undermining aims to reduce reoffending.

The Justice Committee said it was "unsurprising" that 80 per cent of crime in England and Wales is reoffending after hearing how prisoners are "languishing" in their cells because of capacity issues.

The committee said half of prisoners are not taking part in education or work, and two thirds of offenders are not in work or education six months after being released from jail.

The findings come after high-profile cases of prisoners being released by mistake, which have been described as a symptom of the system under "horrendous strain".

Chairman of the committee, Andy Slaughter, said: “Prison rehabilitation and efforts to break the cycle of reoffending aren't working, and cannot succeed in a system which is facing critical pressures on so many fronts.