MPs sound warning as number of remand prisoners hits 50-year high

Remand prisoners face similar challenges to the wider prison population in areas including mental health, addiction and maintaining contact with family. Photograph: Simon Turner/Alamy

The criminal justice system is failing the ever rising number of remand prisoners in England and Wales, which is at its highest level for 50 years, MPs have warned.

The House of Commons justice committee says the increase, and rise in length of time spent on remand, has been fuelled by the backlog in the courts and insufficient community provision for people with vulnerabilities.