THE number of people in prison awaiting trial in England and Wales has reached its highest level in 50 years, a damning report by MPs has found. 

The Commons justice committee said the rise was being fuelled by a backlog in the courts as well as a lack of community provisions to support vulnerable groups such as drug addicts and rough sleepers. 

In its report published today, the committee warned that many remand prisoners are also being held for longer than the statutory six-month limit, with 770 prisoners kept behind bars for over two years while awaiting trial.