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Six prison closures in England announced Six prison closures in England announced
(35 minutes later)
Six prisons in England are to be closed and three more will be partially shut, the Ministry of Justice has announced.Six prisons in England are to be closed and three more will be partially shut, the Ministry of Justice has announced.
It will result in the loss of 2,600 places in what the statement called "old and uneconomic" prisons and is expected to save £63m per year from the cost of running prisons.It will result in the loss of 2,600 places in what the statement called "old and uneconomic" prisons and is expected to save £63m per year from the cost of running prisons.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) says it also plans to build a new super prison with 2,000 places.The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) says it also plans to build a new super prison with 2,000 places.
It is set to be around 25% bigger than the existing largest facility.It is set to be around 25% bigger than the existing largest facility.
The super prison, which would be Britain's biggest prison, would be in either London, north-west England or north Wales, the MoJ said. Britain's biggest prison would be in either London, north-west England or north Wales, the MoJ said.
It said a feasibility study is to begin.
The six prisons that are to close are Bullwood Hall in Essex, Canterbury, Gloucester, Kingston in Portsmouth, Shepton Mallet in Somerset and Shrewsbury.The six prisons that are to close are Bullwood Hall in Essex, Canterbury, Gloucester, Kingston in Portsmouth, Shepton Mallet in Somerset and Shrewsbury.
Prisons in Chelmsford, Hull and Isle of Wight are to be partially closed.Prisons in Chelmsford, Hull and Isle of Wight are to be partially closed.
A written ministerial statement issued by the MoJ said: "Our strategy for the custodial estate is to ensure that we have sufficient places to meet the demand of the courts whilst securing best value for money for the taxpayer."A written ministerial statement issued by the MoJ said: "Our strategy for the custodial estate is to ensure that we have sufficient places to meet the demand of the courts whilst securing best value for money for the taxpayer."
Custodial arrangements for women are to be reviewed and the results are expected by the summer.
The MoJ said women offenders have "particular needs" and facilities for females should be "organised as effectively as possible to meet gender specific requirements whilst also delivering best value for the public".
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: "We have to bring down the cost of our prison system, much of which is old and expensive.
"But I never want the courts to be in a position where they cannot send a criminal to prison because there is no place available.
"So we have to move as fast as we can to replace the older parts of our prison system."
The BBC's Danny Shaw said the closures were the biggest for many years and would mean job losses among prison officers.
In addition to the super prison being considered, Mr Grayling unveiled plans for four new mini-prisons known as houseblocks.
Under the proposals, those would be built at existing prisons at Parc in south Wales, Peterborough in Cambridgeshire, the Mount in Hertfordshire, and Thameside in London.
And, in total, they will be able to hold up to 1,260.
The announcement comes just days after the government unveiled plans to allow private firms and charities to supervise low-risk offenders on probation in England and Wales.