The Government has announced a new £110 million package to accelerate prison expansion across England and Wales, as pressure on the prison estate continues.
The Ministry of Justice announced the funding on 1 September 2026, saying the money would be used to speed up the delivery of additional prison places and help ease capacity pressures across the system.
For families with somebody currently in prison, the announcement may sound very large and very distant from everyday concerns such as phone calls, visits and staying in contact.
But prison capacity can affect many parts of prison life.
Here is what families need to know.
What has the Government announced?
The Ministry of Justice says £110 million will be fast-tracked from existing budgets to help deliver additional prison places more quickly.
The Government says its wider plan is to create 14,000 additional prison places by 2031.
Part of the new funding will be used to convert existing areas inside prisons into cells.
The Government specifically referred to spaces such as:
- unused offices;
- laundry rooms; and
- storage areas.
The announcement also confirmed progress on a new prison with around 1,700 places.
Why does England and Wales need more prison places?
Prison capacity has been under sustained pressure.
Official figures published by the Ministry of Justice show that there were 85,858 prisoners in England and Wales on 30 June 2026.
Although that was 2% lower than at the same point in 2025, the prison estate remains under significant pressure.
Recent debate has also focused on how sentencing and early-release arrangements should respond to prison overcrowding.
The Government has been balancing several competing concerns:
- keeping enough prison places available;
- protecting the public;
- managing sentencing reforms;
- dealing with foreign national offenders;
- supporting victims; and
- improving conditions inside prisons.
What could this mean for families?
The announcement does not mean that prison phone-call rules or visiting rules have suddenly changed.
However, capacity pressures can affect families indirectly.
When prisons are crowded, prisoners can sometimes be:
- moved between establishments;
- housed further away from home;
- transferred to different wings;
- placed in prisons where family facilities differ; or
- affected by changes to prison routines.
That can make maintaining family contact more complicated.
If a prisoner is transferred to another establishment, families may need to check the new prison's arrangements for:
- telephone calls;
- approved numbers;
- visits;
- sending money;
- letters;
- video calls; and
- family-support services.
Could prisoners be moved to different prisons?
Yes, transfers between prisons can happen for many reasons, including operational and capacity considerations.
A transfer may mean that a family suddenly has to deal with a different set of local arrangements.
For example, one prison may have in-cell telephones while another may use a different telephone setup.
Visiting hours, booking procedures and family-support services can also vary between establishments.
That is why families should always check the current official information for the specific prison where their relative or friend is being held.
Will prison phone calls change?
There has been no general announcement that the basic system for ordinary prison phone calls has changed as a result of this funding package.
Prisoners generally continue to make calls through authorised prison telephone systems to approved contacts.
The exact arrangements depend on the prison.
If someone you know is moved, make sure the person still has the correct contact number and check whether any approval process needs to be completed again at the new establishment.
Why does family contact matter?
Family contact is not simply a convenience.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons published research earlier this year highlighting the importance prisoners place on contact with partners, parents, siblings, children and friends.
Its research found that these relationships can provide prisoners with support, safety, wellbeing and hope while they are in custody.
For many families, telephone calls become one of the most regular ways of maintaining that connection.
What should families do if a prisoner is moved?
If you discover that somebody has been transferred, there are several practical steps worth taking.
First, confirm which establishment they have moved to.
Then check that prison's official GOV.UK page.
Look specifically for information covering:
- telephone arrangements;
- visits;
- approved contacts;
- letters;
- sending money;
- secure video calls; and
- family-support services.
If you do not know where the person is being held, GOV.UK provides information on finding and supporting someone in prison.
What else was included in the announcement?
The Government also announced an additional £18.9 million for specialist victim-support services.
The Ministry of Justice says this comes on top of £550 million already announced for victim services over the next three years.
The wider prison-capacity programme also includes plans relating to:
- foreign national offenders;
- sentencing reform;
- IPP sentences; and
- future prison construction.
These are separate issues, but they form part of the Government's broader effort to manage pressure across the criminal justice system.
What about young offenders?
The capacity debate is also affecting the youth estate.
On 2 September 2026, the Youth Justice Board responded to Government plans concerning the use of secure accommodation for some 18-year-olds.
The Board warned that capacity pressures in the adult prison estate should not undermine the distinct needs and welfare of children and young adults in custody.
This shows that the prison-capacity issue is affecting several parts of the justice system, not simply adult men's prisons.
What should families watch next?
The prison-building programme will take place over several years.
Families should therefore watch for:
- announcements about new prisons;
- expansion of existing establishments;
- changes to sentencing or release arrangements;
- prisoner transfers;
- changes to individual prison services; and
- new guidance from the Ministry of Justice or HMPPS.
Unli Prison Call will continue publishing practical updates where changes are likely to affect families trying to stay in contact with somebody in custody.
Staying connected if someone is in prison
If somebody you care about is in prison, communication arrangements can sometimes feel complicated.
Unli Prison Call provides a dedicated UK landline number that can be used as part of your prison-call arrangements.
The service currently costs:
£6.99 per month
Setup is normally completed within:
1–2 business days
Calls to your dedicated number can then be forwarded to your nominated mobile according to the service setup.
The prison's own rules, contact approval procedures and telephone arrangements still apply.
Unli Prison Call is an independent telephone service and is not affiliated with HM Prison and Probation Service, the Ministry of Justice or any individual prison.