Labour promises to speed up prison building process

Labour has set out plans to relieve pressure on prisons by unblocking the planning process and boosting the prison building programme. The party said the prison estate is "bursting at the seams" due to inaction and mismanagement by the Conservative government.

- RHIANNON JAMES

Earlier this year, chief constables were urged to take fewer suspects into custody amid overcrowding in jails. This followed plans to expand the early release scheme and let some inmates out of jail up to 70 days early to free up cells.

In a further law and order offering, the party wants to set up 80 new specialist rape courts across and England and Wales to fast-track cases as part of plans to tackle violence against women and girls that will be included in Labour’s manifesto this week.

It will also comprise a pledge to introduce specialist rape units in every police force, where staff trained to deal with domestic abuse will work with victims, The Observer reported.