{
  "id": 4723035,
  "title": "More cells being built within prisons to help tackle overcrowding",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/more-cells-being-built-within-prisons-to-help-tackle-overcrowding",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T21:59:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC News",
    "slug": "bbc-news",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8x543ddzjo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The UK government is investing £110 million to create more prison cells in existing facilities across England and Wales to address the issue of overcrowding. The funds, fast-tracked from existing budgets, will be used to convert unused office spaces, laundry rooms, and storage areas into cells. This move comes as the prison system nears maximum capacity, and the government faces criticism over its handling of an early release scheme. Lord Chancellor Alex Norris emphasized the seriousness of the government's commitment to fixing the broken prison system, noting that over 3,200 prison places have been delivered in just two years. The investment is part of a £7 billion capital plan to create 14,000 prison places by 2031, with the £110 million announced on Monday being drawn from previously allocated funds. Additional measures include stricter sentencing reforms, quicker deportation of foreign offenders, and ending the unjust Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences. The government also announced £18.9 million for improved victim support services, which will be funded by reprioritizing existing budgets. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice signed a contract to build a new jail in Lancashire capable of housing 1,700 inmates. The early release scheme, which aims to reduce overcrowding, will exclude criminals convicted of manslaughter, serious child sex offences, grooming offences, and those convicted of manslaughter.",
  "summary": "The government says £110m has been fast-tracked from existing budgets to speed up the building of new cells.",
  "key_points": [
    "UK government invests £110 million to build more prison cells.",
    "Unused office spaces, laundry rooms, and storage areas converted.",
    "Over 3,200 prison places delivered in two years."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}