Jail population at record high

The number of prisoners in England and Wales has reached a record high of 75,550 - six more than the previous record in April last year.

Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said the Government should "reserve prison for serious and violent offenders only, which is its stated policy".

She added: "It has to divert petty offenders into mental health or drug treatment programmes."

The prison population has risen by 25,000 in the past 10 years. The number of women jailed has doubled. The latest rise is a blow to Martin Narey, chief executive of the National Offender Management Service, who has called for greater use of community penalties.