Police cells will not take prisoners from overcrowded jails

The prison population has hit an all-time high and home secretary John Reid is to announce plans for dealing with overcrowding.

The Home office has approached the Nottinghamshire force about using police cells as an emergency measure.

But police authority chairman John Clarke said the request was refused.

"At the moment this will not happen," he said.

"It's been requested that we look after some of the overflow of prisoners. The Chief Constable has turned it down and I fully support him in that.