A general view of B-wing at Wakefield Prison, West Yorkshire
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.
NORMA AUSTIN HART reports from a conference on on the rights of women prisoners in the Scottish criminal justice system
PCS members face dangerous working conditions in crumbling buildings while the Common Platform IT system obstructs rather than streamlines operations — and Labour’s promised wave of insourcing has not materialised, writes SHARON McLEAN
The announcement of a Women’s Justice Board should be cautiously welcomed, writes SABINA PRICE, but we need to see a recognition that our prison system is in crisis and disproportionately punishes some of the most vulnerable people in society