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Prison Population Reaches All-Time High, Again

Prison

First Posted: 02/12/11 12:59 GMT Updated: 02/12/11 12:59 GMT   PA

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The prison population in England and Wales has hit another all-time high, figures show.

The number of inmates now stands at 88,179 - a rise of 13 on last week and just 1,203 short of the usable operational capacity, according to a Ministry of Justice spokesman.

The announcement is the fifth time in a row that weekly figures have revealed a record number of convicts in the country's jails.

The rise in the number of people behind bars has been fuelled by the summer's riots, but the Government has insisted there will be enough prison places for anyone jailed over the looting and violence.

The usable operational capacity has been increased since Mark Duggan, 29, was shot dead by police, prompting protests in Tottenham, north London, which then led to the disturbances in English cities.

No places are activated under Operation Safeguard, which would see police cells used to hold prisoners, a Ministry of Justice spokesman said.

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The prison population in England and Wales has hit another all-time high, figures show. The number of inmates now stands at 88,179 - a rise of 13 on last week and just 1,203 short of the usable ope...
The prison population in England and Wales has hit another all-time high, figures show. The number of inmates now stands at 88,179 - a rise of 13 on last week and just 1,203 short of the usable ope...
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Hank Hancocks
8 Fans
10:08 AM on 12/04/2011
Then build more prisons! or for some sentences bring back national service?
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Roy Fowler
I try....I really do!
106 Fans
05:26 PM on 12/02/2011
Come, come people......Prison is a growth area in a time of decay, we should be embracing it, not complaining about it!!

Lets start by building more prisons on old Military bases and getting regional construction going: selling off old "city" prison plots will certainly part fund it; retrain and re employ some of our Armed service troops; have a min 50% of all food, goods and services provided LOCALLY (no national contracts) wherever possible.

Imagine 12 to 15 new prisons dotted throught the Uk....Prisons creating local, regional construction jobs and long term security for the wardens families and service suppliers.

The UK's population is rising FAST; Immigration from the EU CANNOT be limited and outside EU immigration is growing. We WILL need more prisons now and in the future, its a fact.

So forget building the HST link from London to Birmingham and spread the BILLIONS around the country for long term prosperity through a staged Prison building scheme NOW.
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ronnieince
57 Fans
09:11 PM on 12/02/2011
They are actually demolishing prisons in some areas of the UK because they don't have enough criminals to jail - Northern Ireland only has 1400 prisoners - they have demolished 2 large prisons and many prison officers are now unemployesd as a result
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grumpyleedsbear
3 Fans
04:27 PM on 12/02/2011
If they put the sex offenders and child pervs in with the general prisoners in stead of in their self contained palaces this would free up some space in no time problem solved and thats without an expensive enquiery job done!!
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ajairley
30 Fans
04:11 PM on 12/02/2011
All forgien nationals should be sent home to serve thier sentence. if they claim they might get shot tough.
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barnsley born
45 Fans
03:20 PM on 12/02/2011
Its come to the time..to ask ourselves...do prisons really work...or maybe is it time to legalise some drugs,which offenfers take up a lot of these spaces...im sounding like Ken clarke..but prison is not working.
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xsweetsuzix
hope for the best, prepare for the worst
74 Fans
03:19 PM on 12/02/2011
yes and so does the out of prison population, so what are we going to do about it,
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