“We’re alright at the moment. But when I say we are alright, we’re at about 94% capacity.
“In October, that looks to be 99% capacity.”
Lowe says, if there is no space left, judges will not be able to send people to prison.
And the most serious offenders, like murderers and rapists, might have to be held in police cells, she says.
The figures quoted by the deputy mayor are an average across West Yorkshire’s jails. HMP Leeds was actually 97% full as of June, according to the Ministry of Justice.
