Prison numbers rise

PHUKET TOWN: Phuket Provincial Prison remains massively overcrowded, according to monthly statistics released by prison officials this week. And the Government’s war on drugs is likely to increase prison numbers, at least in the short term. The figures reveal that there are 1,035 men and 174 women incarcerated at the jail. This compares with 955 male and 204 female prisoners recorded in the jail at the end of December, and is 60% over the official capacity of 666 male and 83 female prisoners. Of the 1,209 inmates, 476 are being held for narcotics offenses, 262 for theft, 161 for assault, murder or attempted murder, 56 for sexual assault or prostitution, 175 for illegal immigration and 79 for other offenses, including forgery, arson and illegal possession of weapons.