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Government 'to announce three prisons to close' Prisons shutdown unveiled by government
(about 6 hours later)
Three prisons which have a total capacity of 850 inmates will be closed by July, the Ministry of Justice is expected to announce. Three prisons with a total capacity of 850 inmates are to close, the Ministry of Justice has announced.
The Times newspaper reports Ashwell prison in Rutland, Lancaster Castle in Lancashire and Morton Hall women's jail in Lincolnshire will all close. Ashwell prison in Rutland and Lancaster Castle in Lancashire will shut, while Morton Hall in Lincolnshire changes to an "immigration removal centre".
The move signals Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke's determination to reduce the prison population. Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke, who wants to cut total inmate numbers, said the jails were outdated and expensive.
A MoJ spokeswoman said an announcement on prison capacity would be made later. As of last weekend, the jail population was 82,991 in England and Wales, almost 5,000 places below capacity.
BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said the government is expected to argue that the closed prisons are expensive and inefficient. The inmates from the three closed prisons will be re-housed elsewhere, while about 500 staff will be transferred nearby or invited to apply for voluntary redundancy, a spokesman added.
It is expected to say Lancaster Castle is a medieval building, while Ashwell - which was badly damaged in a riot in April 2009 - would be too costly to restore to full use 'Security priority'
It is understood Morton Hall will become an Immigration Removal Centre. Mr Clarke said: "The decision to close any prison is a difficult one but one that we have had to make. Closing outdated and expensive prisons is an important step in our strategy to provide a secure and modern, fit-for-purpose prison estate, while improving efficiency and value for the taxpayer.
'Simpler approach' "The changes will reduce our current capacity by 849 places and I am confident that they can be safely managed within existing headroom, whilst maintaining our ability to cope with any increase in population.
Our correspondent added the government will say new prisons at Belmarsh and Featherstone will create 2,500 new spaces in the next year, which will offer better value for money. "Security remains our highest priority and we will ensure that this, along with efficiency and current performance levels, is maintained across the estate."
The inmates from the three prisons will be rehoused elsewhere in the prison estate, while about 500 staff will be transferred to nearby prisons or invited to apply for voluntary redundancy. He added: "Decisions on the future size of the prison estate will be driven by population demand and prisons will only close when capacity allows.
In December Mr Clarke set out plans to reduce the 85,000-strong prison population in England and Wales by about 3,000 over four years. 'Sufficient places'
"We will always ensure that there are sufficient places for those offenders sentenced to custody by the courts, including a margin to manage fluctuations in the prison population. Decisions to close future capacity will only be taken if they do not put this ability at risk."
In December Mr Clarke set out proposals to reduce the then 85,000-strong prison population in England and Wales by about 3,000 over four years.
Other plans to reduce prison numbers included allowing some foreign criminals to leave Britain for good instead of going to prison, giving judges more discretion over sentencing in murder cases and handing more offenders fines or community sentences.Other plans to reduce prison numbers included allowing some foreign criminals to leave Britain for good instead of going to prison, giving judges more discretion over sentencing in murder cases and handing more offenders fines or community sentences.
At the time, Mr Clarke said it was a "simpler, more sensible" approach but Tory backbenchers voiced concern that criminals would avoid being sent to prison. Ashwell prison, a former Army camp, is a facility for medium-risk males with a capacity of 214. It will close by the end of March.
The latest MoJ figures show there are currently 82,991 prisoners, about 5,000 less than the usable operational capacity of 87,936. Lancaster Castle is leased from Lancashire County Council while the land itself is owned by the Duchy of Lancaster. It has a capacity of 238 and will also close by the end of March.
Ashwell prison, a former Army camp, is a facility for medium risk males with a capacity of 214. And Morton Hall, a former RAF base used to house female prisoners, has a capacity of 392. The government said it would be operational as an immigration centre by some time next year.
Lancaster Castle is leased from Lancashire County Council while the land itself is owned by the Duchy of Lancaster. It has a capacity of 238.
And Morton Hall, a former RAF base, has a capacity of 392.
An MoJ spokeswoman said: "An announcement on prison capacity will be made to Parliament [on Thursday] morning."