Leading prison experts have warned that Keir Starmer must "hold his nerve" and consider reducing jail sentences for criminals, even if it may not sit well with the public.

The Prime Minister is braced for tough choices as his major sentencing review, which could be unveiled as soon as this week, is expected to recommend a complete overhaul of the system. Advocates believe the Government has a "historic opportunity" to overturn years of punitive prison policies that have culminated in a severe prisons crisis.

Should Keir Starmer 'hold his nerve' on the prisons crisis? Will shorter sentences solve the issue? Have your say in our comments section.

Yet, any significant reforms are likely to spark controversy, unpopularity, and discomfort for a Prime Minister already facing waning support in the polls and the growing challenge from Reform UK.

Since 1991, the prison population has soared from around 40,000 to more than 88,000. The UK has a higher incarceration rate than many of its European neighbours, with about 134 per 100,000 people behind bars, compared to 66 in the Netherlands, 71 in Germany, and 53 in Finland, according to

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