A rise in gang tensions within prisons is another impact of the overcrowding crisis, one of the governors from the north of England said.
They explained that due to the lack of space, more people from different parts of the country are being placed in the same facility, therefore increasing the chances of regional rivalries.
“When you’ve got inmates from Manchester and Liverpool for example, there is a worry there could be gang tension. Or having people from different parts of London could mean an escalation in threat levels because of rival gangs,” they said.
“This has always happened, but it’s happening more because so many prisons are full, and so people are sent to prisons far away,” they added.
The lack of space has also led to cells, which are designed to hold one person, being used for two inmates, the other governor from northern England said, which raises “serious health and safety concerns”.
“The single cells are small and they have a workspace for eating and an open toilet… so you’re eating and going to the loo in a very small area and then you have to put another person in there and they’re doing it all together,” they said.
“Prisons are already dealing with an infestation issue and this could make it worse.”
The BBC understands that work has begun to create more cells in prisons by re-purposing existing spaces, but that is expected to take months.
The prime minister had been under increasing pressure to block the early release of the killers of PC Harper, who died in 2019 when he was dragged by a car as three teenagers fled a quad bike theft in Berkshire.
There were concerns that two of them – Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole – may have been eligible for early release under the government’s plan, and more than one million people signed a petition calling for them to remain behind bars.
As well as those convicted of manslaughter and murder, serious child sex offenders, rapists and groomers will not be eligible for early release under the new scheme as part of the Sentencing Act, as well as prisoners convicted of indecent assault offences and death by dangerous driving.
On Tuesday, the justice secretary is expected to give further details, including how many people will be affected, during a statement to Parliament.
