England and Wales are locking up a higher proportion of their citizens than any other European country, the latest figures show.

Home Office statistics indicate the prison population reached 67,383 last Friday, a year on year increase of 1242.

England and Wales now have 128 prisoners for every 100,000 people. Until the latest surge in the prison population, Portugal had the EU's highest figure, locking up 127 per 100,000.

In Scotland the latest figures show 6246 people behind bars, a figure of 122 per 100,000 people.

Prison reform campaigners said the government should be ashamed of its record of locking up proportionately more people than any other EU country.

The Howard League for Penal Reform said locking more and more people up would not reduce the levels of crime being committed.

"The fact that we are the biggest jailer in Europe is ignominious and something the Government should be deeply ashamed of. To lock more and more people up is a mad policy because sending people to prison simply creates more crime and more victims. It's morally reprehensible and financially profligate," said Howard League director Frances Crook.

Prison overcrowding also remains a problem, with 3705 more prisoners than the maximum uncrowded capacity of the prison estate.

The number of prisoners in England and Wales has increased by over 20,000 in the last ten years. Over the same period 25 new prisons have been opened, of which the Prison Reform Trust says 13 are already overcrowded. Since 1995 over 12,000 new prison places have been provided at a cost of £1.28 billion - an average of over £100,000 per place.

The Home Office forecasts the total will continue to rise. It is expected to reach 68,400 by March 2003.