The
average population in custody during 1999 was
64,770, a reduction of 1 per cent on 1998, the
year in which the average prison population
(65,300) had been greater than in any previous
year.
In
the first quarter of 1999 the prison population
was falling, down from 64,830 at the end of
January to 64,210 at the end of March. The reduction
is accounted for by the introduction of Home
Detention Curfew.
The
average remand population for 1999 was 12,520,
little changed from 1998.
In
line with the reduction in the total prison
population, the sentenced population reduced
by 1 per cent between 1998 and 1999 from an
average 52,180 to 51,690.
Between
1998 and 1999, female prisoners increased in
number by 5 per cent from an average 3,110 to
3,250.
Between
1998 and 1999 there were increases in the number
of males serving sentences for drugs offences,
sexual offences, burglary and motoring offences.
There were reductions in the numbers of males
serving sentences for robbery, violence against
the person, fraud and forgery and theft and
handling.
In
the ten year period since 1989 longer sentence
prisoners (over 4 years) have tended to increase
as a proportion of all sentenced prisoners,
moving from 32 per cent of all prisoners in
1989 to 40 per cent in 1999.
In
England and Wales there were 125 prisoners for
every 100,000 members of the general population
in 1999. This was the second highest among western
European countries. Only Portugal (131) had
more prisoners relative to population. Russia
and the United States have the highest rates
in the world, some six times higher than those
in western Europe, Canada and Australia.
