Prisoner total below 4,000 for first time in four years

Prisoner numbers have dropped below 4,000 for the first time in four years, new figures show. There were 3,983 people in custody yesterday and 645 on temporary release (TR).

It is the lowest number in prison since the end of 2009 and marks a 14% drop from a peak of 4,621 in March 2011.

The custody numbers have fallen in recent years, following rapid growth in the mid- to late 2000s.