Shrewsbury’s MP has written to the Home Secretary to demand urgent action to relieve pressure on the Dana prison which has been named the most overcrowded in the country.

It was announced yesterday that the prison was running well above capacity and now holds the unenviable title of the most overcrowded in the UK – housing up to 150 more inmates than it should.

It is designed to handle 178 prisoners, but its current population has been stretched to 326 – which means it is over-subscribed by a massive 183 per cent.

Daniel Kawczynski, MP, today said he was so outraged over the situation that he has written to Jacqui Smith warning action must be taken or he would ask for a debate in Parliament over the issue.

“I have written to the Home Secretary because Shrewsbury prison repeatedly tops the league for being the most overcrowded prison in the country,” he said.

“It places undue pressure on wardens in their roles and also the whole infrastructure of the prison.

“Unless something is done about this urgently I will be calling for a debate on it in Parliament.”

Mr Kawczynski added: “The Government is simply not building enough prisons in the country.

“They have got to invest in more prisons because if they don’t what is happening is we are seeing extra pressure put on the management of these prisons and prison officers having to deal with more people than they would normally but also the early release of prisoners.

“Magistrates are less willing to give prison sentences knowing there is no space for prisoners.”

He said he believed prison overcrowding could lead to higher incidents of illegal drugs and contraband entering the prison.

Earlier this year, Ministry of Justice figures revealed some 504 inmates at the county’s two jails were having to “double-up” because of a chronic shortage of prison places.

By Russell Roberts