Failure to cut prison numbers hits spending target plans

Failure to cut prison numbers hits spending target plans

Inability to reduce prison population by 6,000 and close older jails is likely to accelerate Tory privatisation plans

The record prison population of 86,000 in England and Wales is not expected to fall significantly over the next few years. Photograph: Paul Faith/PA

The political failure of the former justice secretary, Ken Clarke's, sentencing reforms means the prison and probation services are set to miss targets for deep spending cuts set by the Treasury, Whitehall's spending watchdog has warned.