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Super-jails should replace run-down prisons - Policy Exchange | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
More than 30 "run-down and poorly-located" prisons should be replaced by 12 "super-jails" each with thousands of inmates, a report has said. | |
Ex-Ministry of Justice deputy director Kevin Lockyer said it could save £600m a year in operational costs alone. | Ex-Ministry of Justice deputy director Kevin Lockyer said it could save £600m a year in operational costs alone. |
The former prison governor carried out the report for right-leaning think tank the Policy Exchange. | The former prison governor carried out the report for right-leaning think tank the Policy Exchange. |
The Prison Reform Trust said it would be a "gigantic mistake" to spend money on a series of super-sized jails. | The Prison Reform Trust said it would be a "gigantic mistake" to spend money on a series of super-sized jails. |
'Busting myth' | 'Busting myth' |
Mr Lockyer said the new prisons would have a campus-style design centred around a shared-service hub. | Mr Lockyer said the new prisons would have a campus-style design centred around a shared-service hub. |
Among the prisons he has suggested closing are Brixton, Feltham, Holloway, Pentonville, Wandsworth and Wormwood Scrubs, all in London. | Among the prisons he has suggested closing are Brixton, Feltham, Holloway, Pentonville, Wandsworth and Wormwood Scrubs, all in London. |
He said the operational savings would amount to 20% of the prison budget and 9% of the Ministry of Justice's departmental budget. | He said the operational savings would amount to 20% of the prison budget and 9% of the Ministry of Justice's departmental budget. |
Mr Lockyer said: "We are busting the myth that small is beautiful when it comes to prisons. In fact, newer prisons outperform older ones, regardless of their size. | Mr Lockyer said: "We are busting the myth that small is beautiful when it comes to prisons. In fact, newer prisons outperform older ones, regardless of their size. |
"We need to build larger, newer facilities that use the most up-to-date technology to monitor inmates. | "We need to build larger, newer facilities that use the most up-to-date technology to monitor inmates. |
"New hub prisons will not only reduce reoffending and improve safety, they will also deliver vast financial savings and better value for money for the taxpayer." | "New hub prisons will not only reduce reoffending and improve safety, they will also deliver vast financial savings and better value for money for the taxpayer." |
Mr Lockyer said the government should focus on cutting the cost per prisoner rather than trying to reduce inmate numbers and closing jails. | Mr Lockyer said the government should focus on cutting the cost per prisoner rather than trying to reduce inmate numbers and closing jails. |
Brownfield sites | Brownfield sites |
The report said a quarter of prisons were built either in the Victorian era or before that. A similar number of jails were built - often poorly - in the 1960s and 1970s, it added. | The report said a quarter of prisons were built either in the Victorian era or before that. A similar number of jails were built - often poorly - in the 1960s and 1970s, it added. |
Mr Lockyer recommended building new prisons on brownfield sites, financed through public sector borrowing. | Mr Lockyer recommended building new prisons on brownfield sites, financed through public sector borrowing. |
Prison Reform Trust director Juliet Lyon said: "With crime falling and community sentences and treatment to tackle addictions working to reduce reoffending, it would be a gigantic mistake to pour taxpayers' money down a super-sized, big brother prison-building drain. | |
"There is scope to close some outdated prisons and reinvest the money saved into effective community solutions to crime." | |
She said the cross-party Justice Select Committee had laid out a plan for bringing down the costs of "ineffective prison sentences" by diverting money into mental healthcare, drug treatment and alternatives to custody. | |
"The prime minister thinks - and prison governors, prison officers, independent monitoring boards and prison inspectors agree - that the idea that 'big is beautiful' with prisons is wrong." | "The prime minister thinks - and prison governors, prison officers, independent monitoring boards and prison inspectors agree - that the idea that 'big is beautiful' with prisons is wrong." |
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