Financial Times FT.com

Police cells may be usedto relieve prisons

By Jimmy BurnsSocial Affairs Correspondent

Published: October 5 2006 03:00 | Last updated: October 5 2006 03:00

Hundreds of prisoners face being transferred to police cells as the prison population looks set to reach capacity within days.

According to Whitehall insiders, the number of prisoners in England and Wales has risen to 79,750, and is in serious danger of reaching its capacity level of 80,000, within days. The 80,000 figure is considered by governors and staff to be the point when prisons can not take in any more offenders.

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