Prison population reaches new high

Updated 22.22 Thu Mar 29 2007

Keywords: John Reid, Home Secretary, Prison, Judges

The number of prisoners in England and Wales has reached a new high, just weeks after the Home Secretary asked judges to send only the most serious offenders to jail.

There are a total of 80,199 prisoners, 24 more than the previous record high at the beginning of December.

The figures came as it was announced the Home Office is to lose control of prisons

The figures came as it was announced the Home Office is to lose control of prisons - responsibilities it has held for 184 years.

The total fell by about 500 in the month after John Reid and the Lord Chancellor made their appeal to the judiciary, in January.

They said prison should only be used for serious, persistent and violent offenders and alternatives such as community penalties should be used for less serious offenders.

It led to a political row after several paedophiles were spared jail because of the jail overcrowding crisis.

The new total includes 79,848 in jails and 351 held in police cells under "Operation Safeguard".