This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33096163

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Prison overcrowding underestimated, ministers admit Prison overcrowding underestimated, ministers admit
(35 minutes later)
Prison overcrowding has been underestimated for the past six years, the Ministry of Justice has admitted. Prison overcrowding has been underestimated for the past six years in England and Wales, the Ministry of Justice has admitted.
National Offender Management Service annual reports failed to record that two prisoners, not one, were living in crowded conditions when they were in a cell designed for one person.National Offender Management Service annual reports failed to record that two prisoners, not one, were living in crowded conditions when they were in a cell designed for one person.
Prisons minister Andrew Selous said the situation was "unacceptable".Prisons minister Andrew Selous said the situation was "unacceptable".
The Howard League for Penal Reform said it was important that the true scale of overcrowding should be known. Campaigners said it was important to know the true scale of overcrowding.
Mr Selous said in a written ministerial statement that prisons had been recording data incorrectly since 2008/9. Mr Selous said in a written ministerial statement that prisons had been recording data incorrectly since 2008-9.
He said: "The public should rightly expect this information to be accurate. Publication of clear, reliable figures on how many prisoners we hold in crowded conditions is an important part of making sure we can be held to account.He said: "The public should rightly expect this information to be accurate. Publication of clear, reliable figures on how many prisoners we hold in crowded conditions is an important part of making sure we can be held to account.
"It is therefore unacceptable that these incorrect figures have been published over the last six years and that these errors were not identified sooner. Since discovering these errors, we have taken urgent steps to ensure that figures will in future be subjected to rigorous quality control.""It is therefore unacceptable that these incorrect figures have been published over the last six years and that these errors were not identified sooner. Since discovering these errors, we have taken urgent steps to ensure that figures will in future be subjected to rigorous quality control."
The Howard League said the statement came two years after it published research showing that about 20,000 prisoners were being kept in overcrowded conditions in England and Wales. 'Simple logic'
The Howard League for Penal Reform said the statement came two years after it published research showing that about 20,000 prisoners were being kept in overcrowded conditions.
Chairman Frances Crook said: "This is a timely written statement, and we welcome the new culture of honesty and accountability at the Ministry of Justice.Chairman Frances Crook said: "This is a timely written statement, and we welcome the new culture of honesty and accountability at the Ministry of Justice.
"Simple logic dictates that if two or three prisoners are sharing a cell designed for one, then all those people are being held in overcrowded conditions. We are pleased that the government's figures will now reflect this, as the Howard League has made this point repeatedly for many years."Simple logic dictates that if two or three prisoners are sharing a cell designed for one, then all those people are being held in overcrowded conditions. We are pleased that the government's figures will now reflect this, as the Howard League has made this point repeatedly for many years.
"Holding men in overcrowded cells with nothing to do all day is never going to help them become law-abiding citizens on release, and it is important that the true scale of overcrowding will be made known. Only by knowing what the problem is can we work together to find a solution.""Holding men in overcrowded cells with nothing to do all day is never going to help them become law-abiding citizens on release, and it is important that the true scale of overcrowding will be made known. Only by knowing what the problem is can we work together to find a solution."