Prison population projections highlight Government incompetence - ALCOCK

11.28.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 28th Aug 2009

New projections published by the Government today show that the prison population in England and Wales could reach more than 93,000 by 2015. This could mean an extra cost to the taxpayer of over £380m.

Commenting, Shadow Liberal Democrat MP for Oldham West & Royton including Chadderton, Mark Alcock said:

"These projections highlight Labour's incompetent handling of our prisons.

"The prison population has already grown by over 20,000 in the last twelve years. The prospect of it rising to over 90,000 is a shocking indictment of an approach which has failed to curb astronomical re-offending rates.

"These projections would see the taxpayer footing over £380m a year more without any measures to stop the revolving door of Britain's prison system.

If the Government is serious about tackling crime and cutting our sky high re-offending rates they must focus on what works. This means moving prisoners with addiction and mental health problems into appropriate accommodation and investing in alternatives to custody."