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Jail overcrowding claims denied Jail overcrowding claims denied
(about 2 hours later)
Shrewsbury Prison's monitoring board has denied claims it is the most overcrowded in England and Wales. Shrewsbury Prison's monitoring board has denied claims the jail is the most overcrowded in England and Wales.
The Prison Reform Trust said last month the prison had 316 inmates, 79% more than the 177 it was designed for.The Prison Reform Trust said last month the prison had 316 inmates, 79% more than the 177 it was designed for.
But Brian Foulkes, chairman of the jail's Independent Monitoring Board, said there was no overcrowding problem.But Brian Foulkes, chairman of the jail's Independent Monitoring Board, said there was no overcrowding problem.
The Prison Service said jails remained "places of both punishment and reform" and that there will always be enough places for serious offenders. The Prison Service said jails remained "places of both punishment and reform" and that there would always be enough places for serious offenders.
Mr Foulkes said the Prison Reform Trust's report was not accurate as it was done at a time when another prison was closing down and some inmates had been moved to Shrewsbury until they could be transferred elsewhere. Mr Foulkes said the Prison Reform Trust's report was not accurate, as it was done at a time when another prison was closing down and some inmates had been moved to Shrewsbury until they could be transferred elsewhere.
"Our optimum capacity is 316," he said."Our optimum capacity is 316," he said.
"Our average between November and April this year was 284.""Our average between November and April this year was 284."
Pressure on public spending means that ministers can no longer afford to be complacent about prison overcrowding or the high reconviction rates it leads to Juliet Lyon, Prison Reform Trust director Two-thirds of jails 'overcrowded' Pressure on public spending means that ministers can no longer afford to be complacent about prison overcrowding or the high reconviction rates it leads to Juliet Lyon, Prison Reform Trust director Two-thirds of jails 'overcrowded'
He said the prison had been built in Victorian times for one prisoner per cell, but alterations meant cells could now house two prisoners comfortably. He said the prison had been built in Victorian times for one prisoner per cell, but alterations meant cells could now house two inmates comfortably.
"The term overcrowding creates the wrong impression in people's minds - it is not the case," he said."The term overcrowding creates the wrong impression in people's minds - it is not the case," he said.
He added he would not be taking up the issue with the Prison Reform Trust. He added that he would not be taking up the issue with the Prison Reform Trust.
Geoff Dobson, deputy director of the Prison Reform Trust, said the report was not produced to be critical of individual prisons but to show what each prison was designed to hold and what they do hold. Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, in response to Mr Foulkes comment that the figures were inaccurate, said they had been based on those posted on the Ministry of Justice website.
He added the trust believed the authorities should look more carefully at an effective use of the prisons, for example sending people with mental health problems for treatment rather than to prison. Geoff Dobson, deputy director of the Prison Reform Trust, said the report was not produced to be critical of individual prisons but to show how many people each prison was designed to hold and how many they do hold.
Almost two-thirds of prisons in England and Wales are overcrowded, with jails' intended numbers exceeded by almost 9,000, the Prison Reform Trust has said. He added the trust believed the authorities should look more carefully at the effective use of prisons, for example by sending people with mental health problems for treatment rather than to jail.
Almost two-thirds of prisons in England and Wales are overcrowded, with jails' intended numbers exceeded by almost 9,000, the trust has said.