Our prisons are overcrowded and the courts are backed up and that was before a change of government came into power. For some time, the system has been creaking, and this week the media announced that the prisons will run out of space.
The Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood says prisons would have run out of space within weeks without immediate action to address overcrowding. If this happened, it would lead to “a total breakdown of law and order”, Mahmood says. Prisons are “on the point of collapse”, she adds.
Thousands of prisoners are to be released early to make space in the prisons. The incoming Labour government have said the situation was worse than it expected. However, a contact who works in the Prison and probation service has said that although the situation is bad, the figures in the media have been inflated.
Pray for:
- God’s divine wisdom for those making decisions to improve the prison system.
- That there will be no conflict with changes to the government.
- For Christians to be in places of influence in government and civil service.
- For probation services to be strengthened to support those released early.
- For safety on our streets and in our communities.
Natasha Ruddock is the Communications Manager at World Prayer Centre and co-leads Victory Outreach Church Birmingham with her husband.
