Election '97: Jail population soars

Thursday 03 April 1997 18:02 EST

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The total population of sentenced and remand prisoners will reach 74,500 by 2005, an increase of 19,200 from the average 1996 population of 55,300, according to the latest long-term Home Office projections, published yesterday.

The figures do not take account of the estimated effects of the heavier sentencing provisions in the Crime (Sentences) Act. According to the Prison Service's short-term predictions, the current jail population of 59,356 will rise to 62,000 by the end of August.

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Election '97: Jail population soars

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