Straw talks up non-prison terms

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Justice Secretary Jack Straw has asked magistrates to consider non-custodial sentences in some cases to help ease prison overcrowding.

The prison population in England and Wales has risen to a record high of 82,006 - 21 places short of capacity.

Mr Straw told the Guardian that some alternatives to short jail terms were more likely to stop re-offending.

His comments come after ministers were criticised for freeing foreign criminals earlier to ease the crisis.

'Better record'

He said the prison population was already 300 above the figure of 81,731 projected for the end of March.

There are effective alternatives in terms of non-custodial penalties Jack StrawJustice Secretary

Mr Straw told the paper: "We have 350 magistrates courts in England and Wales. If each one ends up sentencing one more extra prisoner a week to jail then we have got the increase we face.

"There are effective alternatives in terms of non-custodial penalties which actually have a better record in terms of preventing re-offending than short prison sentences.

"The probation service has become more effective."

The government has announced that foreign prisoners in England and Wales will be eligible for deportation 270 days before serving half their sentence instead of the present 135 days.

In January 2007 then Home Secretary John Reid, the attorney general and lord chancellor wrote to judges and magistrates asking them to jail only the most dangerous and persistent criminals.