This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/5408530.stm

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Crisis talks on jail overcrowding Prisons set to hit full capacity
(about 3 hours later)
Prison officials are due to meet John Reid in a bid to avoid an overcrowding crisis, amid fears all jails in England and Wales will be full by next week. Prisons in England and Wales are set to be full by next week with room for only about 200 more inmates left.
The home secretary will be asked to look into releasing some prisoners early to free up space. At the present rate of increase in the prison population, jails are on course to reach the full capacity of 80,000.
Other options he will be asked to consider include deporting some of the 10,000 foreign inmates, or using police station cells. Options which have been proposed to alleviate the situation include early prisoner releases and deporting some foreign inmates.
There are almost 79,800 prisoners with room for just 200 more. About 500 police cells may also be used to house prisoners in a strategy called Operation Safeguard.
The prison population rose by 357 during the last week. The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said the plan is in place but has not yet been activated.
Early release Release plans
Mr Reid will meet Prison Service chief Phil Wheatley and Helen Edwards, head of the National Offender Management Service, to try to resolve the situation. The Home Office denied suggestions that Mr Reid was to meet Prison Service chief Phil Wheatley over the overcrowding situation.
The policy of using police cells - of which 500 could be made available - is known as Operation Safeguard. In August the Prison Officers' Association (POA) warned of rising tensions at HMP Manchester, formerly Strangeways, where there was a 25-day riot in 1990.
The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) says the plan is in place but has not yet been activated. The prison was housing nearly 300 more inmates than recommended, said the POA.
In August the Prison Officers' Association (POA) warned of rising tensions at HMP Manchester, formerly Strangeways where there was a 25-day riot in 1990. It was also reported in August that the Home Office was also drawing up plans to release thousands of prisoners 10 days early to free up cells.
The prison was housing nearly 300 more inmates than recommended. Edward Leigh, head of the Commons' Public Accounts Committee, has called for more of the 10,000 foreign prisoners in the jails to be deported.
The Home Office was also drawing up plans to release thousands of prisoners 10 days early to free up cells in overcrowded jails in England and Wales.
Edward Leigh, head of the Commons' Public Accounts Committee, has called for more foreign prisoners to be deported to help tackle prison overcrowding.