Ministers are exploring options to ease overcrowding in prisons across England and Wales, including a possible upgrade of security levels at some men’s Category C and women’s prisons. The proposal is discussed as a way to reduce pressure on the system and increase capacity without changing the overall custody estate.
Officials have examined whether some prisoners could be moved away from Category B “reception” jails—where new arrivals and certain remand or short-term cases are held—such as HMP Liverpool, HMP Manchester and HMP Pentonville in north London. The outlets describe a focus on diverting prisoners on remand or serving short sentences, potentially allowing other sites to take on additional roles.
The coverage presents the plan as being at the exploratory stage, with no final decisions announced. It reflects the wider problem of overcrowding and the different security categories within the prison system, where reception prisons are designed to manage different populations than Category C and women’s facilities.
