A major sentencing review published yesterday has set out sweeping proposals to reduce England’s prison population by nearly 10,000 — reforms that could directly ease pressure on overcrowded and crisis-hit jails like Wandsworth Prison.
The Independent Sentencing Review [pdf], led by former Justice Secretary David Gauke, recommends a significant reduction in the use of short custodial sentences, greater reliance on community-based punishments, and a shift in focus toward rehabilitation and public safety rather than punishment alone. The report, commissioned after the prison estate narrowly avoided capacity collapse in 2024, warns that without urgent change, the system will continue to spiral.
For HMP Wandsworth, where most inmates are on remand or serving short sentences, the proposals could be transformative — if enacted. Among the headline recommendations:
- A presumption against custodial sentences under 12 months
- Wider use of suspended and deferred sentencing
- Investment in probation and mental health support to reduce reoffending
- A new “earned progression” scheme to move prisoners to community supervision earlier
- A greater role for technology and community monitoring to safely manage offenders outside custody
The review highlights [pdf] that short sentences have the highest reoffending rates — nearly 60% — and create “churn and chaos” in local prisons, especially those like Wandsworth Prison with high turnover. The constant movement of inmates undermines regime stability, stretches staff capacity, and leaves little time for rehabilitation.
Wandsworth: A System at Breaking Point
The release of the review follows a week of renewed scrutiny for Wandsworth Prison, where a government inspection published last week found that conditions, though slightly improved, remain deeply unsafe. The follow-up review from HM Chief Inspector of Prisons found “limited and fragile” progress under a new governor — with violence and self-harm slightly reduced — but persistent failings in five out of ten key areas. Overcrowding, poor sanitation, broken infrastructure, and minimal time out of cell continue to define day-to-day life.
Inspectors reported that 58% of prisoners are still locked up for more than 22 hours a day, and that basic repairs to heating, water and sanitation are often delayed or incomplete. Four more deaths in custody have occurred since the previous inspection — including two self-inflicted — yet safeguarding procedures and emergency response protocols remain inadequate.
The conditions are taking a heavy toll on individuals. Earlier this month, we also reported on shared diary entries from Will Pastow, a remand prisoner at Wandsworth Prison, who wrote to his mother describing freezing nights in a broken-windowed cell, showers flooded with fetid water, and entire days without time outdoors. In one entry, he noted that a “good day” meant not having suicidal thoughts — a stark measure of the emotional strain.
The sentencing review’s evidence summary confirms that remand prisoners face some of the harshest conditions in custody, often held in overcrowded cells without access to education, exercise, or rehabilitation — all consistent with the reports from Wandsworth.
Families Still Waiting for Answers
Public frustration has been growing. On 8 May, we reported from a packed public meeting hosted by the Wandsworth Prison Improvement Campaign (WPIC). The event, billed as an opportunity to hear from the new prison governor, was marked by his absence. Families of those who had died in custody — and others with loved ones currently inside — called for accountability and transparency.
Former prison chaplain Liz Bridge, who organised the meeting, told attendees that while she welcomed early signs of reform, the system remained dangerously unstable. Others described Wandsworth as unsanitary, overcrowded, and unfit for its current population. Representatives from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman’s office were present and said they were actively investigating several recent deaths.
The sentencing review published today echoes many of these concerns. It highlights that short-term prison sentences are not only ineffective but harmful, and recommends that custody should be a last resort, especially for non-violent and low-risk offenders. The review also supports expanding community-based sentencing options backed by mental health and housing support, with the potential to reduce reoffending more effectively than prison.
WPIC response to report
The WPIC coordinator Deborah Lamb said of today’s review:
“We welcome any measures which will reduce overcrowding in Wandsworth Prison and lead to more humane conditions. We support a shift towards alternatives to custody and to managed transition between prison and full release.
We would like to see Wandsworth Prison do more to help prisoners and families maintain contact which we know reduces reoffending. Steps to tighten the rules for recall should also help to reduce numbers in Wandsworth.
We also welcome policies which incentivise participation in education and training. Last week’s report into progress at Wandsworth by the Prisons Inspectorate noted that access to education and training in Wandsworth Prison is not yet good enough. Considerable improvements are therefore needed before all men in Wandsworth will be able to take part in education and training as a way of reducing their sentences.
Over half of prisoners in Wandsworth are on remand, which is not covered by the Sentencing Review. We hope that the Government will next look at how we can reduce the numbers of people held in custody on remand and the length of time that they are imprisoned.”
Channel 4 Shines National Spotlight
The experience at Wandsworth Prison was again thrust into the national spotlight on Wednesday night, when Channel 4 News broadcast a segment featuring the story of Will Pastow and the WPIC meeting. The broadcast included clips from his prison diary and footage of his mother describing the conditions he faced — from rodent droppings and human excrement to days of complete lockdown.
The programme noted that the Ministry of Justice has invested £100 million in Wandsworth Prison infrastructure and security since last year’s urgent notification. But many prisoners — particularly those on remand — still face prolonged periods without purposeful activity or even fresh air.
The Channel 4 segment also echoed themes raised by the sentencing review: that reducing the prison population must go hand-in-hand with improving conditions. Evidence cited in the review supports this — noting that many overcrowded prisons now provide minimal access to education, work or rehabilitation, undermining any claim that they are delivering public safety.
Looking Ahead: Will Reform Follow?
The Ministry of Justice has yet to confirm which proposals from the sentencing review it will adopt. It has previously pledged a £4.7 billion prison expansion programme, but critics argue that building more cells won’t fix the underlying problems.
Campaigners and families of prisoners are now watching closely to see whether the government’s next moves will offer real change — or more of the same.
