UK Converting Prison Laundries to Cells Amid Capacity Crisis

The British government is moving to convert prison laundry rooms, offices, and storage cupboards into cells as part of an urgent effort to address a severe capacity crisis in the prison system. The plan, announced by Justice Secretary Alex Norris, will see hundreds of new places created by repurposing existing space within the prison estate. This measure comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham has expanded the list of offenders excluded from an early release scheme, a decision that will keep an additional 1,400 prisoners behind bars and further strain available space. Norris is set to detail the changes in a statement to Parliament.