Starmer is reportedly considering plans that would allow prisoners to serve 40 percent of their time (Image: Getty)
Keir Starmer is reportedly considering implementing new plans for prisons that could result in some convicts serving just 40 percent of the sentences and the early release of 40,000 offenders.
In a bid to tackle the overcrowding problem, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has been advised to take on board the plans that could prevent prisons running out of space within mere weeks.
Analysis of Ministry of Justice figures shows that this would also give them an extra 18 months to free up more prisons and allow for a wider review of sentencing.
Starmer called prisons in the UK an "obvious example" of a "broken" system as a record 88,225 people are currently incarcerated in England and Wales.
Under the new rules, prisoners serving sentences with fixed end dates would be freed 40 to 43 percent of the way through their sentence instead of 50 percent.
READ MORE: Keir Starmer says work has already begun to unpick Brexit deal
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to make a decision in the coming weeks. (Image: Getty)
Those not eligible for early release would be people in prison for sex crimes, violence, or terrorism, as well as those awaiting decisions by a parole board.
This would replaced the current 10-week early release scheme used by prisons at capacity and could put thousands of offenders back on the streets early, according to ministry figures.
Though Labour are said to be considering the proposal, a decision has not been made yet, but one is expected in the coming weeks.
The plan would allow enough time to refurbish olf prison cells, put more prison services online, and possibly replace some sentences under 12 months with suspended sentences.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
In defence of Sir Keir Starmer clocking off early to make time with family
Comments
Inside Keir Starmer's swift move to 10 Downing Street - as Rishi immediately departs
Comments
Rwanda refuses to give Britain a penny back of axed ￡270m migrant scheme
Comments
UK to face 'challenging summer' of Channel migrant crossings, Downing Street warns
Comments
World reacts to 'Starmergeddon' as Labour sweeps to crushing victory in UK election
Comments
Four reasons why the General Election wasn't quite as bad for the Tories as it seems
Comments
Rishi Sunak mocks Keir Starmer after Labour leader says he'll clock off at 6pm in No10
Comments
John Curtice's dire warning to Labour as he pinpoints the one thing Sir Keir failed to do
Comments
Labour Cabinet in full: Keir Starmer appoints Angela Rayner for top job in No10
Comments
Five things you might have missed if you're just waking up after General Election results
Comments
JK Rowling criticises appointment of women's minister who cannot explain what a woman is
Comments
Meet Sue Gray, the woman set to become the most powerful adviser in Westminster
Comments
Gran who gifted daughter ￡1.4m home is booted out of house in family feud
Comments
Keir Starmer dons Downing Street in St George's flags hours after England flag 'blunder'
Comments
Keir Starmer begins work 'straight away' to end NHS crisis
Comments
Keir Starmer reveals work has already begun in ripping up Boris Johnson's Brexit deal
Comments
The 11 Cabinet ministers ousted from Parliament in Tory election nightmare
Comments
Brexit, unions and Blair: These are what we must fear most from Starmer's reign
Comments
'More blah, blah, blah!' Suella Braverman savages Yvette Cooper over small boats plan
Comments
Owen Jones tears into Emily Thornberry after Keir Starmer Cabinet snub
Comments
In defence of Sir Keir Starmer clocking off early to make time with family
Comments
Inside Keir Starmer's swift move to 10 Downing Street - as Rishi immediately departs
Comments
Rwanda refuses to give Britain a penny back of axed ￡270m migrant scheme
Comments
UK to face 'challenging summer' of Channel migrant crossings, Downing Street warns
Comments
World reacts to 'Starmergeddon' as Labour sweeps to crushing victory in UK election
Comments
Four reasons why the General Election wasn't quite as bad for the Tories as it seems
Comments
Rishi Sunak mocks Keir Starmer after Labour leader says he'll clock off at 6pm in No10
Comments
John Curtice's dire warning to Labour as he pinpoints the one thing Sir Keir failed to do
Comments
Labour Cabinet in full: Keir Starmer appoints Angela Rayner for top job in No10
Comments
Five things you might have missed if you're just waking up after General Election results
Comments
JK Rowling criticises appointment of women's minister who cannot explain what a woman is
Comments
Meet Sue Gray, the woman set to become the most powerful adviser in Westminster
Comments
Gran who gifted daughter ￡1.4m home is booted out of house in family feud
Comments
Keir Starmer dons Downing Street in St George's flags hours after England flag 'blunder'
Comments
Keir Starmer begins work 'straight away' to end NHS crisis
Comments
Keir Starmer reveals work has already begun in ripping up Boris Johnson's Brexit deal
Comments
The 11 Cabinet ministers ousted from Parliament in Tory election nightmare
Comments
Brexit, unions and Blair: These are what we must fear most from Starmer's reign
Comments
'More blah, blah, blah!' Suella Braverman savages Yvette Cooper over small boats plan
Comments
Owen Jones tears into Emily Thornberry after Keir Starmer Cabinet snub
Comments
In defence of Sir Keir Starmer clocking off early to make time with family
Comments
Inside Keir Starmer's swift move to 10 Downing Street - as Rishi immediately departs
Comments
Rwanda refuses to give Britain a penny back of axed ￡270m migrant scheme
Comments
UK to face 'challenging summer' of Channel migrant crossings, Downing Street warns
Comments
World reacts to 'Starmergeddon' as Labour sweeps to crushing victory in UK election
Comments
Four reasons why the General Election wasn't quite as bad for the Tories as it seems
Comments
Rishi Sunak mocks Keir Starmer after Labour leader says he'll clock off at 6pm in No10
Comments
DON'T MISS:
1,000-strong immigration squad to ‘fast track removals’ and clear asylum hotels [LATEST]
Labour MP forced to call police over horror sledgehammer attack after election [REPORT]
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper unveils Border Security Command to 'stop the boats' [INSIGHT]
Trending
A source told The Telegraph: "It feels like the only measure that buys time because of the terrible inheritance left by the last government who didn’t fix the prisons crisis and allowed it to get into this state."
The early release scheme is backed by experts, the Prison Governors' Association, and the Prison Reform Trust - previously chaired by James Timpson, who was appointed Prisons Minister on Friday.
Timpson has called for the UK to adopt a prison system similar to the Netherlands, which more frequently hands out community sentences, taking the "politics out of sentencing".
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Related articles The elections were a blue murder for the Conservatives, says Nick Ferrari Sunak appoints key new role so Tories can 'hold Labour to account immediately' Keir Starmer must not bow to Gaza activist politics of Jeremy Corbyn 'I'm back' - Lee Anderson issues major GB News update after election win France election results as National Rally crushed by last minute left coalition