ONE in seven inmates are living in crowded conditions at HMP Isle of Wight, new data shows.

Ministry of Justice figures show 167 inmates, 15.4 per cent of all prisoners at the Isle of Wight prison, were living in crowded cells as of March.

This was up from 14.1 per cent the previous year.

Across England and Wales, the prison overcrowding rate rose to 23.6 per cent from 22.9 per cent in 2022-23 – a five-year high.

The number of prisoners across the country was also at a record high – 87,129. 

This included 1,089 on the Isle of Wight, which was a significant increase from 977 in 2022-23.

Earlier this month, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood warned that without immediate action, prisons would run out of space within weeks.

Plans set out by Ms Mahmood will see thousands of prisoners released earlier than planned as the Government attempts to avert the “collapse” of the prisons system.

Currently, most prisoners serve 50 per cent of their sentence in jail, with the remainder served on licence, subject to being returned to prison if they violate their parole conditions.

Government plans include a temporary measure to reduce that to 40 per cent.

The temporary move does not apply to those convicted of sex offences, terrorism, domestic abuse, or some violent offences.

Pia Sinha, chief executive of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "Doing nothing is no longer an option.

“The government has thankfully recognised the importance of reducing overcrowding as an immediate first step.

“This will buy some breathing space.”

However, Ms Sinha has warned that with the prison population projected to rise further, longer-term solutions must soon be found.

The Ministry of Justice estimates the number of prisoners across the country will rise to anywhere between 94,600 and 114,800 by March 2028.

It is already building six new prisons to create an extra 20,000 places as demand grows for cell spaces.