Fewer women may go to jail in England and Wales in sentencing review

Review to examine scrapping short sentences and treating more offenders in the community, with prisons filling up again

Fewer women could be sent to jail under a review to be announced by ministers this week that is expected to cut sentences for thousands of criminals.

The government will lay the groundwork for the task of reshaping the sentencing regime in England and Wales, with the aim for it to be completed within six months.

Internal data shows that prisons are expected to be full again by the summer of 2025.

Ministers are examining measures to ease pressure on prisons to cover a period of at least nine months before the sentencing review's proposals can be introduced.

The outsourcing company Serco has seconded extra staff to tag prisoners, after being handed a six-figure fine for failing to tag dozens of offenders released last month.