Jail population hits record high

Jail population hits record high

Scotland's prison population has risen by a third in 10 years, to reach more than 8,000 for the first time.

The Scottish Prison Service said 8,013 people were in custody on Monday night, with 371 on home detention curfew.

The country's prisons are designed to hold about 6,600 inmates and had a daily average of about 6,000 in 1998.

Earlier this year the chief inspector of prisons warned that overcrowding in Scotland's jails was making the country less safe.

I realise that record high jail numbers is not news this side of the border, however, it is more newsworthy because this story relates to that neighbouring country Scotland. Its still part of Gordon Brownland. If it's like this in his own backyard what hope is there for us English people?