Prison Populations, 31 August 2008

Statistics on population in custody include data for England and Wales for the period up to the end of August 2008. The latest release updates the statistics previously released on 29 August 2008.

The key points from the latest release are:

• The male prison population in Wales was 2,814 as at 31 August 2008, a 4.5 per cent increase compared with a year earlier. There are no female prisoners held in Wales.
• Of the four Welsh prisons, the population of Cardiff (Category B) was 777, a 3.3 per cent increase from August 2007; the population of Parc (Category B) was 1196, a 6.1 per cent increase; Swansea's (Category B) population rose slightly to 425, a 1.0 per cent increase and the population of Usk/Prescoed (Category C) was 416, a 6.1 per cent increase from last year's figure.
• The prison population was 146 per cent of the 'In Use Certified Normal Accommodation (CNA)' (1,927) at 31 August 2008.

Notes

Usk and Prescoed prisons are counted together in this release. Prescoed is a satellite of Usk, located about 3 miles away. Further details of Welsh prisons can be obtained from HM Prison Service website.

'In Use Certified Normal Accommodation (CNA)' - that is available for immediate use, excludes damaged cells, cells affected by building works and cells taken out of use due to staff shortages.

For further information, please refer to the Ministry of Justice website to access the report in full.

Contact

Tel: 029 2082 5061
E-mail: stats.inclusion@wales.gsi.gov.uk