A VICTORIAN jail in the heart of Liverpool city centre could be reopened to cope with rising prison numbers.
The former Main Bridewell, on Cheapside, may be converted into a jail to house prisoners for around 24 hours while they await sentencing or trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
It is believed the proposed prison, which would have more than 35 cells, may also be used as an overflow if local jails reach capacity.
A Home Office working group is currently looking at converting a number of disused buildings across the country into jails to cope with Britain's growing prison population.
Costings are already understood to have been made for the project with the bill to bring the old building back into use placed at £1m.
Last year the Daily Post revealed police stations across Merseyside were being used to house prisoners when the jails are full, but Liverpool Prison Governor John Smith believes that is no longer an option.
He said: "There's a limitation in the number of police cells the prison service can use and we no longer have the buffer we had 10 years ago when we could use police custody facilities.
"Those cells are now needed for the police's operational needs. They (the Home Office) are looking at all kinds of options, including the Bridewell, to increase capacity."
Merseyside Chief Constable Norman Bettison said: "That site has been identified by a government working group as a possible facility which could be converted into use."
Liverpool's two prisons are both overcrowded and nearing their total capacities.
HMP Liverpool, Europe's largest prison, has a total capacity of 1,480 prisoners - last month the jail was only 20 inmates short of that total, and 270 prisoners above the total it was originally designed for.
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