Wednesday briefing: Why the prison crisis is about much more than early release

Britain's prison overcrowding crisis has followed Prime Minister Andy Burnham even on holiday, with the Guardian reporting he took daily calls from Ministry of Justice officials over an early release scheme his predecessor, Keir Starmer, introduced to ease crowding across England and Wales. Public anger has grown since it emerged the plan might include two of the killers of Police Constable Andrew Harper, along with other serious sexual offenders, including grooming gang perpetrators. Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, called the ordeal a rollercoaster that's really draining. Burnham has now put the decision on hold until September, the Guardian says.

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