PLANS to deport foreign prisoners early and offload inmates to overseas jails are expected to be announced today as the government faces an overcrowding disaster of its own making.

With 88,225 people now locked up in prisons in England and Wales and a desperate shortage of prison officers, the government is also expected to confirm more non-custodial sentences for “low-level” offenders to cut prison numbers.

The plans are due to be announced by Justice Secretary Alex Chalk after the Morning Star goes to print.