17/02/2004

Prison population hits record high

The prison population in England and Wales has leapt to a new record high, after more than 2,000 people were jailed over the past month.

According to the Prison Service, 2,167 people were locked up in January which has seen the prison population swell to 74,543.

Despite a series of measures drafted in by the Home Office, such as electronic tagging and care in the community orders, the strain of Britain's prisons is acute. It has been reported that there are now only 600 prison places left – but in its busiest week last month, the prison service took 597 into its cells.

A prison service spokesperson said that the situation was being monitored and that police cells could be called upon if needed.

(gmcg)

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