California is to place a moratorium on executions, giving all of its 737 death row inmates a reprieve.

Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, today issued an executive order, describing the death penalty as “inconsistent with our bedrock values”.

He is to close the US state’s new, unused execution chamber at San Quentin State Prison, and withdraw lethal injection regulations.

No death row inmates will be released.

California last executed someone in 2006, under then Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

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Newsom, who took office in January, said: “I do not believe that a civilised society can claim to be a leader in the world as long as its government continues to sanction the premeditated and discriminatory execution of its people.”

Michael Rushford, president of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, said: “This would be a bold step and I think he’s got to be aware of the political downside.

"Voters have had multiple opportunities in California over three decades to abandon the death penalty, and they’ve shut them down.”

It comes amid growing controversy over the use of lethal injection and increasing opposition to the death penalty in the US.

Califorinia is the sixth U.S. state where a governor has enacted a moratorium.

Republican Illinois Governor George Ryan was the first to do so in 2000, though the state has since abolished the death penalty.

Pennsylvania, Washington and Oregon have all imposed moratoriums on executions, and the former Colorado governor refused to execute someone on death row.

Notable California death row inmate include serial killer Lonnie Franklin.

Nicknamed the Grim Sleeper, he was convicted two years ago for killing nine women and a teenage girl in Los Angeles dating back to the 1980s.

Police have said Franklin, now 66, may have had as many as 25 victims.

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