Prison overcrowding is a serious issue
For a couple of weeks now members have been raising the issue of overcrowding in prisons and the problems 
that this is causing in Wales, particularly if it is going to mean taking police station cells for housing prisoners. I raised this two weeks ago and it was raised again this week by Mike German.
The First Minister responded that Edwina Hart would be taking a lead on this and she has now written to Tony McNulty, the Minister for Policing, asking what arrangements are in place in relation to Police Stations in Wales, and asking for confirmation that the cost of this is going to be borne by the Home Office. The other concern again raised in the letter is the problem with Police Officers being diverted from their normal front-line duties if this is to happen. We will have to see what response is forthcoming to the letter which was sent on 10 October.
Prison overcrowding is a serious issue throughout the country. Some prisoners shouldn’t be in prison at all and some dangerous ones seem to be in open prisons which is also crazy.
