Prime Minister Andy Burnham has come under pressure to consider converting at least one women's prison into a men's prison as part of efforts to address the growing prison overcrowding crisis in England and Wales.

The calls follow his decision to pause Labour's planned early release scheme after public concern over the possible early release of two men convicted of the manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper.

Burnham said the policy would undergo an urgent review before any further implementation, stressing that public safety would remain the Government's highest priority.

Prison reform organisations, senior prison officers and some Conservative politicians have argued that additional capacity could be created by repurposing a women's prison, including HMP Bronzefield, while expanding the use of community sentences for non-violent female offenders.

The Prison Reform Trust also proposed reducing recalls for licence breaches, increasing the use of home detention curfews and electronic monitoring, and ensuring open prison places are fully utilised.

Former justice secretary Alex Chalk said the proposal deserved consideration, although he cautioned that it would not solve the capacity crisis on its own.

Sir David Gauke, who previously led an independent sentencing review, warned that prisons could run out of available capacity by November if planned sentencing reforms and early release measures were abandoned without alternative solutions.

Families of victims, including the widow and mother of PC Andrew Harper, welcomed the review but called for a thorough examination of sentencing and release policies rather than temporary changes.