Police cells used for inmates
Home Secretary John Reid today began a search for a prison ship as West Midlands Police confirmed its station cells were being used to hold inmates because jails in the region were full to crisis levels.
The Home Office is looking at the possibility of securing up to 800 places for convicted criminals on boats.
West Midlands is among 19 forces revealed as ready to hold prisoners in up to 240 station cells initially.
The jail population reached 79,714 yesterday - a level still 65 below the all-time high of two weeks ago.
But going into police cells was necessary in some parts of the country as overcrowded jails, including Featherstone near Wolverhampton, hit breaking point.
Spokesman for West Midlands Police Steve Garey today confirmed cells were being used in the West Midlands area but would not reveal where.
It is believed Steelhouse Lane and Digbeth stations in Birmingham would be the first to take prisoners.
A spokeswoman for the Home Office said John Reid had accepted the move was "necessary and pragmatic".
"A number of prisoners are being held in police cells under Operation Safeguard but the number changes daily," she said. "Implementation started on October 12, and in the first instance, around 240 cells from 19 forces will be used.
"There is potential for expansion of up to a total of 520 police cells through October and November."
The Home Office yesterday placed an advert in the Official Journal of the European Union asking firms to provide 200 to 800 prison places on ships.
The spokeswoman said: "The Home Secretary has said he wants us to explore innovative solutions to the prison capacity issue."
The decision comes after the Home Office's sale of the prison ship HMP Weare.
Earlier this month Mr Reid was criticised after unveiling plans to create space in jails by offering foreign criminals packages worth up to £2,500 to leave Britain.
By Becky Sharpe