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'Unprecedented' Prisoner Numbers After Riots

The jailing of hundreds of people involved in last week's riots has led to the prison population in England and Wales to reach a record high.

Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures show the current population is 86,654, after the previous record of 85,931 was set last week.

There has been a spike in arrests and convictions recently after the wave of violence and unrest in cities across the country.

Around 1,500 places remain before the usable operational capacity of 88,093 is reached.

The Government has said there will be enough jail places for anyone sentenced to custody as a result of the violence and it is understood contingency measures are in place.

A spokeswoman for the Prison Service said: "We are managing an unprecedented situation and all the staff involved should be commended for their dedication and hard work during this difficult time."

The rise of more than 100 per day since last week comes after some 1,300 people have appeared in court charged with offences linked to the riots and looting.

The Guardian has reported that English courts have been handing out sentences to convicted rioters that are on average 25% longer than normal.

Data showed that a series of high-profile cases that have already come to court - such as four-year sentences handed down for inciting riots via Facebook - are indicative of harsher sentencing across the country.

It began after Jordan Blackshaw, 20, and Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, 22, were jailed for four years each after setting up Facebook pages which encouraged people to riot.

Up to 70% of those sent to crown court have also been remanded in custody, which has placed a heavier burden on prison and police cell space availability.

Eoin McLennan-Murray, president of the Prison Governors' Association, said: "What is worrying is if the landscape of sentencing has changed.

"If the courts continue to be heavy-handed with other offences and use custody more readily than they have done previously then that would be problematic longer term."

Campaigners and lawyers have criticised the tougher sentences handed to those involved in rioting and looting last week as disproportionate.

Andrew Neilson, director of campaigns for the Howard League for Penal Reform , said the rush to send a message out was leading to "some very bad sentences, which will be overturned on appeal".

The usable operational capacity is the total number of prisoners that the jails in England and Wales can hold, taking into account control, security and the proper operation of the planned regime, less 2,000 places.

This reflects the constraints imposed by the need to provide separate accommodation for different prisoners, perhaps because of their sex, age, security category, conviction status, or because of a single cell risk assessment.

There are currently no plans to halt the closure of Latchmere House prison in Richmond, Surrey, or Brockhill prison in Redditch, which are set to shut next month.