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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Heather Stewart Political editor

England and Wales to get extra 4,000 prison places in record expansion

HMP Birmingham
HMP Birmingham is one of the 16 prisons that will be renovated or extended under Ministry of Justice plans. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

Dominic Raab has announced the creation of 4,000 new prison places in England and Wales, as the government plans for an increase of almost 25% that could take the prison population to an all-time high.

There were 79,765 prisoners in England and Wales in the week ending 11 February, according to Ministry of Justice figures, while the maximum capacity in the system was 81,368.

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