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Prison 'exceeding capacity'
Feb 18 2004
A Birmingham prison has been named as one of the most overcrowded in the country.
The Winson Green jail is among 11 which were exceeding their maximum capacity at the end of last month, according to the Prison Reform Trust.
The charity has warned the Government it must take action to avoid a prisons crisis as the number of inmates in England and Wales hit an all time high of 74,543.
According to the Prison Service website, HMP Birmingham has a certified normal accommodation capacity of 741, with a maximum capacity of 900.
A Prison Reform Trust spokesman said basic conditions were deteriorating in a number of jails with prisoners sharing cramped cells with an unscreened toilet, unable to access showers or exercise.
The rapid rise in prison numbers was not linked to a rise in crime but is caused by tougher sentencing, the spokesman added.
A Prison Service spokeswoman said: "We are monitoring the situation.
"We are looking at the options, including police cells and getting any out-of-commission cells back into use as quickly as possible."
Official records showed that 81 jails were overcrowded.
The other 10 exceeding their maximum capacity were: Ashwell in Rutland, Cardiff, Doncaster, Hull, Lancaster, Leicester, Lincoln, Stafford, Wandsworth in south London and Wormwood Scrubs in west London.
