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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Ben Quinn Political Correspondent

Burnham warned running prison capacity near limit is ‘big risk’

A prisoner walks across a caged walkway above a prison corridor lined with cell doors
About 5,000 prisoners were due to be released early from October under the plans. Photograph: Ian Waldie/Getty Images

Andy Burnham is taking a “big risk” by seeking to continue running prison capacity to the limit, according to the former justice secretary appointed by Keir Starmer to oversee a review of sentencing.

As parliament resumes on Tuesday, the government will confirm its U-turn on its early release scheme in England and Wales, which would have seen thousands of prisoners released early as part of a plan to ease prison overcrowding.

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