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| Limit jail sentences, urges Reid | Limit jail sentences, urges Reid |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Judges and magistrates are being asked to jail only the most dangerous and persistent criminals. | Judges and magistrates are being asked to jail only the most dangerous and persistent criminals. |
| The home secretary and law chiefs have sent them a letter as the number of inmates in England and Wales hovers around the jail capacity of 80,000. | The home secretary and law chiefs have sent them a letter as the number of inmates in England and Wales hovers around the jail capacity of 80,000. |
| The government said the move was necessary while plans to create 8,000 more prison places went ahead. | The government said the move was necessary while plans to create 8,000 more prison places went ahead. |
| It comes as the BBC learns Norwich jail is to reopen a wing declared "unfit" by inspectors because of cell shortages. | It comes as the BBC learns Norwich jail is to reopen a wing declared "unfit" by inspectors because of cell shortages. |
| The Home Office confirmed that up to 150 remand prisoners will be housed in Norwich's A-Wing as a short-term measure, just days after it closed for refurbishment. | The Home Office confirmed that up to 150 remand prisoners will be housed in Norwich's A-Wing as a short-term measure, just days after it closed for refurbishment. |
| The prison's Independent Monitoring Board described A-Wing as a "horrible" Victorian block in a "very bad state of repair". | The prison's Independent Monitoring Board described A-Wing as a "horrible" Victorian block in a "very bad state of repair". |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The answer is to build more prisons and do it fast Piers Catton, Gosport Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The answer is to build more prisons and do it fast Piers Catton, Gosport Send us your comments |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says the developments at Norwich Prison are a sign of how serious the overcrowding crisis has become. | BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says the developments at Norwich Prison are a sign of how serious the overcrowding crisis has become. |
| Officials will advise Home Secretary John Reid that he may soon have no alternative but to order the release of inmates nearing the end of their sentences, our correspondent said. | Officials will advise Home Secretary John Reid that he may soon have no alternative but to order the release of inmates nearing the end of their sentences, our correspondent said. |
| The government will have 350 extra places in a prison on Merseyside in the spring, but its 8,000 new places will not all be ready for four years, with funding and sites yet to be fully approved. | The government will have 350 extra places in a prison on Merseyside in the spring, but its 8,000 new places will not all be ready for four years, with funding and sites yet to be fully approved. |
| 'Acute challenge' | 'Acute challenge' |
| The letter from Mr Reid, Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer and Attorney General Lord Goldsmith said courts should not be "squandering taxpayers' money to monitor non-dangerous and less serious offenders". | The letter from Mr Reid, Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer and Attorney General Lord Goldsmith said courts should not be "squandering taxpayers' money to monitor non-dangerous and less serious offenders". |
| Offenders who should be sent to jail won't be, and all because the government failed to listen David DavisShadow home secretary 'Unfit' wing reopens | |
| "The public have a right to expect protection from violent and dangerous offenders," it said. | "The public have a right to expect protection from violent and dangerous offenders," it said. |
| "Prisons are an expensive resource that should be used to protect the public and to rehabilitate inmates and stop them reoffending." | "Prisons are an expensive resource that should be used to protect the public and to rehabilitate inmates and stop them reoffending." |
| A Home Office spokesman said the issue of prison spaces was now an "acute challenge" for everyone in the criminal justice system. | A Home Office spokesman said the issue of prison spaces was now an "acute challenge" for everyone in the criminal justice system. |
| "We are accelerating accommodation arrangements where possible and examining all options for extra capacity in the prison estate as a matter of urgency." | "We are accelerating accommodation arrangements where possible and examining all options for extra capacity in the prison estate as a matter of urgency." |
| Negligence accusation | Negligence accusation |
| Following Wednesday's revelations, pressure groups and opposition politicians condemned the government's criminal justice policies. | Following Wednesday's revelations, pressure groups and opposition politicians condemned the government's criminal justice policies. |
| Shadow home secretary David Davis said it was "outrageous" that court sentences were being dictated by the prison capacity and not the offence committed. | Shadow home secretary David Davis said it was "outrageous" that court sentences were being dictated by the prison capacity and not the offence committed. |
| "Yet again we see the public are being put at risk by the failure of ministers," he said. | "Yet again we see the public are being put at risk by the failure of ministers," he said. |
| The Lib Dems' Nick Clegg said the government's "arrogance and incompetence" had led to the crisis. | The Lib Dems' Nick Clegg said the government's "arrogance and incompetence" had led to the crisis. |
| Juliet Lyon, of the Prison Reform Trust, accused ministers of "criminal negligence" for allowing the jail population to spiral so dramatically. | Juliet Lyon, of the Prison Reform Trust, accused ministers of "criminal negligence" for allowing the jail population to spiral so dramatically. |
| And the Prison Officers Association called for more funding to avoid the same thing happening next year. | And the Prison Officers Association called for more funding to avoid the same thing happening next year. |
| Operation Safeguard, whereby police cells are used to house prisoners in England and Wales, began again this month. | Operation Safeguard, whereby police cells are used to house prisoners in England and Wales, began again this month. |
| It is understood about 480 people stayed in police stations on Monday and cells at the Old Bailey were also made available this week. | It is understood about 480 people stayed in police stations on Monday and cells at the Old Bailey were also made available this week. |