Record number of inmates in prisons

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There are now a record number of 84,150 inmates in jails across England and Wales, an increase of 3,000 in two years.

That is despite around 2,500 prisoners being released early every month.

Ministers have pledged to increase prison capacity to 96,000 by 2014.

Prisons are still 1,000 places below their maximum capacity of 85,137. There are also 2,000 additional prison places and 400 police and court cells for use in an emergency.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "We will always provide enough prison places for serious offenders, those who should be behind bars: the most dangerous, the seriously persistent offenders, and the most violent.

"Prison is the right place for such people. However prison is not always the right answer for less serious offenders.

"In some of these cases a tough community sentence can be more effective than a short prison sentence - more effective in terms of rehabilitating offenders, turning them away from crime and therefore giving greater protection to the public.

"That's why, in March 2008, we announced £40 million to further support the Probation Service so that magistrates have tough community sentences at their disposal.

"Since 1997, the Government has increased prison capacity by over 24,000 places. The Government increased capacity by over 3,300 places last year, aim to increase it by a further 1,750 this year and are committed to increase net capacity to 96,000 by 2014."