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Limit jail sentences, urges Reid Limit jail sentences, urges Reid
(about 2 hours later)
Judges and magistrates are being asked to jail only the most dangerous and persistent criminals. Judges and magistrates are being asked in a letter by Home Secretary John Reid and legal chiefs 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. Mr Reid, the Attorney General and Lord Chancellor sent out the letter as the number of inmates in England and Wales hovered about the maximum 80,000 mark.
The government said the move was necessary while plans to create 8,000 more prison places went ahead. The government says 8,000 more prison places are being created.
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 commentsHAVE 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 Mr 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.
Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions, Tony Blair said that other options such as prison ships and army camps could be considered.
"All options, of course, are kept under consideration all of the time but the very reason we have an issue to do with prison places at the moment is because... there are currently 40% more dangerous, violent and persistent offenders in prison than in 1997 despite crime haven fallen rather than risen.
"And secondly... we now have 2,000 prisoners in prison with indeterminate sentences precisely because of the seriousness of the offence."
'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 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 class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6293889.stm">Reaction to jails crisis
"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 accusationNegligence 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.
She said: "Politicians of all stripes have talked up fear of crime and talked up prison numbers and actually it's been disastrous... for victims and reoffending rates have just risen appallingly."
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.