Fears UK prisons face ‘collapse’ as they could be full before early release scheme begins

Prison custody suites across the country could run out of space within three days, making normal arrest procedures impossible. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Prisons could still hit full capacity within weeks despite new emergency measures announced by Labour to release some prisoners early.

An unprecedented move to cut the time served in custody for most sentences to 40% will not come into effect until September, and officials fear that capacity will be overwhelmed by the end of August. The justice secretary has described the situation as a “ticking timebomb”.