Politics · 24 July 2026
Prison guards asked to report unrest after Andy Burnham pauses early releases
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Up to 7,000 inmates were due to start leaving jail in September before the prime minister ordered an urgent review. Officials have halted probation training and instructed guards to report any signs of trouble breaking out. One insider called the policy shift a mess, warning that male jails are already 97% full and have roughly 2,000 beds remaining.
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