PRISON OVERCROWDING

That this House is appalled at the Government's admission of erroneous figures regarding the prison population and possible overcrowding; recognises that organisations such as the Justice Unions' Parliamentary Group, the Prison Officers Association, and the Howard League for Penal Reform have long warned the Government that prisons are dangerously full; notes with concern that the Ministry of Justice accepts that in some circumstances two or even three prisoners have been sharing a cell designed for one person; further notes the dangerous implications of an overcrowded prison estate for the safety of both inmates and staff; and calls on the Government to launch an urgent review to discover why the public have been misled on the issue of prison overcrowding and to ensure that this issue is tackled as a matter of priority to ensure that prisoners, staff and the public are safe.