Hundreds of violent offenders could vote, figures show

Figures reveal that 1,780 criminals convicted of violent or sexual offences would be eligible to vote under plans to give prisoners voting rights.

The BBC learned last week that the government wants to limit the right to those sentenced to less than a year.

Ministry of Justice figures for England and Wales at the end of 2010 show 1,551 inmates convicted of violence against a person serving less than a year.

There were 229 people convicted of sexual offences in the same bracket.

Labour MP Gloria De Piero obtained the figures, which relate to the number of people in jail in England and Wales at the end of December 2010, by submitting a request to the Ministry of Justice.

The ministry add a disclaimer, saying the exact figures "are subject to possible errors", but the political effects cannot be mistaken.

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