UK prison system jeopardises offender rehabilitation and crime reduction, MPs warn | The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload ourSocial PartnerWe are 8 logo (opens in a new tab)AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAnahita Hossein-PourFriday 14 November 2025 01:54 GMTPublic safety 'at risk' because more inmates are being sent to prisons with minimal security, serving governor warnsA new Justice Committee report warns that the UK's prison system is in crisis, jeopardising efforts to rehabilitate offenders and reduce crime rates.The report highlights severe overcrowding, chronic staff shortages and appalling living conditions as key factors contributing to an 80 per cent reoffending rate.Many prisoners are locked in their cells for 22 hours or more daily, with half not engaged in education or work programmes, hindering rehabilitation and impacting mental health.Recent high-profile cases of prisoners being mistakenly released underscore the “horrendous strain” on the system, with 91 such errors between April and October this year.MPs also raised concerns about declining education for children in custody and significant real-term cuts to prison education budgets.In fullPrisons being on ‘crisis mode’ is harming efforts to reduce reoffending, MPs warnThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in