Concern as number of jail inmates at record high

THE prison population in England and Wales has reached a record high of 85,201, it has emerged.

Ministry of Justice figures show this figure was 192 more than last week.

Campaigners have called for Justice Secretary Ken Clarke to freeze the building of new prisons and stop the number of inmates rising further.

In February, Jack Straw, the then justice secretary, announced the end of an early release scheme.