Justice reform

Ken Clarke has announced a reduction in the prison population in his green paper on justice.

The changes are to be achieved by radically reducing the reliance on short sentences and improving rehabilitation to end what Mr Clarke calls a 'revolving door' in prisons.

Other measures announced include a trial of a 'payment by results' scheme and more focus on having convicts pay reparations to their victims.

Opponents of the liberalising regime, including many on the Tory benches, argue that the government is becoming 'soft on crime' by shifting the focus from prison to preventing reoffending.

There are currently 85,000 inmates housed at British prisons. The reforms would see that reduced to 82,000.

Labour claims the rationale behind the green paper is solely one of cost-cutting and risks endangering the public.