Some 13 European countries, however, have rules for disqualifying some prisoners depending on the crime committed or the length of the sentence.

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Inspectors found that while the Prison Rules 1999 set out legally binding entitlements for remand prisoners, appearing to suggest remand and sentenced prisoners should not be required to share a cell under any circumstances, Prison Service policy gave discretion to governors and sharing mixed cells was "the norm".

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People often claim the right to enter or remain in Britain, even when immigration rules say otherwise, on the ground that they have family ties there prisoners protesting deportation, for example, or undocumented migrants.

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