Prisons could soon be full

There are 74,023 inmates in total, a spokeswoman for the service said, adding the official capacity is 76,700.

Ministers last year extended electronic tagging schemes to make space in jails and the spokeswoman said there was "an open mind" about repeating that move.

But reformers fear overcrowding may reduce the effectiveness of rehabilitation and increase suicides.

We are more punitive now than at any point in modern times Adrian Thomas Nacro

The number of inmates has rocketed by 983 since August 29 - the equivalent of two medium-sized jails.

Adrian Thomas, of crime reduction charity Nacro, said: "We are without doubt the prison capital of Europe.

"This figure, the highest ever, is symptomatic of an ongoing crisis in the way we view and tackle crime - seemingly more often about appeasing a reactionary and vociferous minority than dealing with the real issues or with what works best."

He said crime has fallen since the mid-1990s but there have been stiffer penalties.

'Disgrace'

Mr Thomas added: "We are more punitive now than at any point in modern times, yet crime has been consistently falling since the mid-90s.

He said "tough community-based alternatives" could be more effective than prison.

In the last year, Home Office ministers extended the eligibility for electronic tagging schemes in order to make space in the jails.

A Prison Services spokeswoman said: "We always monitor the population and keep an open mind as to ways to manage it."

The BBC home affairs correspondent Margaret Gilmore said in real terms, there were only 700 prison places left, which means police cells could be used for that purpose in the coming months.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said: "This is a national disgrace.

"Overcrowding means that too often prison has no rehabilitative effect."

He called on the government to develop better education in prisons to prepare offenders for life on the outside and prevent reoffending.