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09/10/2006
Reid announces plans to ease prisons crisis
Home Secretary John Reid has announced plans to make up to 500 places available in police cells in order to ease pressure on overcrowded prisons in England and Wales.
Mr Reid also told the Commons that "maximum flexibility" would be provided for transfers to open jails.
The Home Secretary also pointed out that the law will be changed in order to make the deportation of foreign criminals easier.
According to reports, the prison population in England and Wales reached a record 79,843 over the weekend. Around 8,000 extra places have been pledged by the government.
Last week, the Conservatives criticised the possible solutions. Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: "Using police cells will only provide a very short-term answer and in any case would present the police with serious problems when processing any arrests.
"The only way the early release of prisoners could relieve overcrowding is if you released over a hundred extra prisoners early every week. Such an option would lead to considerate extra risk to the public and completely undermine the concept of punishment and rehabilitation in our prisons."
(KMcA/SP)
Mr Reid also told the Commons that "maximum flexibility" would be provided for transfers to open jails.
The Home Secretary also pointed out that the law will be changed in order to make the deportation of foreign criminals easier.
According to reports, the prison population in England and Wales reached a record 79,843 over the weekend. Around 8,000 extra places have been pledged by the government.
Last week, the Conservatives criticised the possible solutions. Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: "Using police cells will only provide a very short-term answer and in any case would present the police with serious problems when processing any arrests.
"The only way the early release of prisoners could relieve overcrowding is if you released over a hundred extra prisoners early every week. Such an option would lead to considerate extra risk to the public and completely undermine the concept of punishment and rehabilitation in our prisons."
(KMcA/SP)
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Home Secretary to announce new prisons
The Home Secretary John Reid is to announce plans for two new prisons, providing an extra 1,300 spaces. The prisons, which will reportedly cost more than £160m, will be located near Ashworth high security mental hospital in Merseyside and next to Belmarsh prison in Woolwich, south east London.
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