Work to create 20,000 new prison places ‘significantly behind schedule’

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Government’s commitment to creating 20,000 new prison places by the mid-2020s is “significantly behind schedule”, the Prison Reform Trust has said. The Government faces an “immediate crisis” in prison capacity, Mark Day, deputy director of the Prison Reform Trust said, as he called for new ways to reduce demand on the system. Mark Day, deputy director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: “England and Wales has the highest imprisonment rate in Western Europe of 141 per 100,000 head of population. England and Wales has the highest imprisonment rate in Western Europe of 141 per 100,000 head of population Mark Day, deputy director of the Prison Reform Trust “The Government urgently needs to look at ways to reduce demand on the system and give it the breathing space it desperately needs.