-       Restorative justice should be used more. It has shown to reduce reoffending, which in turn reduces prisoners. Norway heavily focuses on restorative justice and rehabilitation; it also has the lowest reoffending rate (Sterbenz, 2014). Suggesting that this method if used correctly and consistently works.

-       Focus on mental health. 71% of female and 47% of male offenders suffer from mental illness (House of Commons,2021). 41% of those in prison with mental health issues should instead be in NHS facilities This can therefore lead to higher reoffending rates as offenders are not getting the help they need. To improve overcrowding, mental health needs within prison need to be focused on to stop reoffending.

-       Revisit the Police Allocation formula. Measures the needs of an area using lots of indicators. This helps to determine annual allocation of available funding to each force. Reform the PAF, so funding is distributed better. Forces that are underfunded gain more resources allowing for the force to have a better impact within that area (UK Parliament, 2019).

-       Tackle issues of funding by reforming how some forces use their funding. For example, police have recently been issuing warnings and fines to those subscribed to illegal streaming services. Although this is beneficial it doesn’t tackle the root cause of the problem. If funding was used to tackle the main issue using problem orientated policing, illegal streaming may be cut out more beneficially. Allowing for police funding to be used more efficiently, instead of having to revisit the problem regularly (Fact, 2023).

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation., 2020. A thematic review of the Exceptional Delivery Model arrangements in probation services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic A review by HM Inspectorate of Probation. [online] Available at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/11/A-thematic-review-of-the-EDM-arrangements-in-probation-services-in-response-to-the-COVID-19-pandemic.pdf [Accessed 8 Feb. 2023].

HM Inspectorate of Probation., 2020. Chief Inspector urges action on National Probation Service staffing, workloads and facilities [online]. Justice inspectorates .Available at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/media/press-releases/2020/01/nationalnps/ [Accessed 5 Feb 2023].

HM Inspectorate of Prisons, 2017. Life in prison: Living conditions. [online] Justice inspectorates. Available at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2017/10/Findings-paper-Living-conditions-FINAL-.pdf [Accessed 13 Feb 2023].

House of commons Justice Committee, 2021, Mental health in prison, Fifth report of session 2021-22, 5, 8-31.

King, Samuel. Going Straight on Probation: Desistance Transitions and the Impact of Probation. 2010. [Accessed 22 Feb. 2023]

Morse, Amyas. “Transforming Rehabilitation: Progress Review - National Audit Office (NAO) Report.” National Audit Office (NAO), 1st March 2019, www.nao.org.uk/reports/transforming-rehabilitation-progress-review/.

Nguyen, L.H. and Nguyen, M., 2012. A Comparative Study of Prison Overpopulation and its Consequences. Hepatology, 55(5), pp.1640–1640. 

Parliament.UK (2022). Prison population 2022: planning for the future - Justice Committee - House of Commons. [online] publications.parliament.uk. Available at: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmjust/483/report-files/48306.htm.

Pearce, R.,2014. PLACEMENT REPORT DEALING WITH BUDGET CUTS: THE IMPACT, THE REPORT CENTRE AND THE FUTURE. [online] Plymouth Law and Criminal Justice Review, p.1. Available at: https://www.plymouthlawreview.org/vol6/Rowena%20Pearce%20-%20Dealing%20With%20Budget%20Cuts%20FINAL.pdf [Accessed 13 Feb. 2023].

Prison Reform Trust., 2022. Prison the facts: Bromley Briefings Sumer 2022 [online]. Available at: Prison-the-facts-2022.pdf (prisonreformtrust.org.uk) [Accessed 10th Feb 2023].

HMIP., 2019. Annual Report 2018-19 [online]. Available at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/07/6.5563 [Accessed 10 Feb 2023].

Spirlet, T. (2023). Judge unable to jail violent lorry driver over overcrowded prisons. [online] Express.co.uk. Available at: https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1720675/judge-prison-jail-system-overcrowded-violent-lorry-driver [Accessed 22 Feb. 2023].

Sterbenz, C., 2014. Why Norway’s prison system is so successful. Business insider, 11, 1-3.

Sturge, G., 2022. UK Prison population statistics, Parliament.uk [online]. Available at: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN04334/SN04334.pdf [Accessed 10 Feb 2023].

UK Parliament, 2019, How our local police forces are funded, The process for allocating funding to police forces has long been recognised as needing reform.

Wright, Robert. “England’s Probation Service at Risk from Cash Squeeze, Watchdog Warns.” Financial Times, 28 Sept. 2020, www.ft.com/content/526fec7a-6537-4979-a45c-606d1f168372.
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