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New 'super-prisons' to be built New 'super-prisons' to be built
(20 minutes later)
Three "super-prisons" housing about 2,500 offenders are to be built, Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said. Three "super-prisons" each housing about 2,500 offenders are to be built, Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said.
He said a building and modernisation programme will provide an extra 10,500 prison places by 2014, bringing the total to 96,000. He told MPs a building and modernisation programme would provide an extra 10,500 prison places by 2014, bringing the total to 96,000.
An extra £1.2bn will be invested on top of the current £1.5bn to deliver the programme, Mr Straw told MPs. Ministers would look at recommendations that sentencing in England and Wales should be more closely linked to the number of jail places, Mr Straw added.
The plans were announced as part of a major review investigating the supply of prison places. The plans were announced as part of a major review of prison places.
Prison ship
The Justice Secretary told the Commons ministers would look at the recommendation that a new commission be created to link sentencing guidelines to the number of places available.
Lord Carter of Coles, who carried out the review, recommended jail sentences in certain cases should be given only if there were empty cells - in a bid to balance demand with supply.
READ LORD CARTER'S REPORT Securing the future [534KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
The building programme would cost an extra £1.2bn on top of the current £1.5bn, Mr Straw said.
One of the so-called Titan jails, which will be larger than any prison currently used in Britain, will be in service by 2012.One of the so-called Titan jails, which will be larger than any prison currently used in Britain, will be in service by 2012.
The other two are expected to be built by 2014.The other two are expected to be built by 2014.
Mr Straw said the Ministry of Justice was also looking for a prison ship.Mr Straw said the Ministry of Justice was also looking for a prison ship.
Further plans were announced to convert a former Ministry of Defence site at Coltishall in Norfolk into a Category C prison.Further plans were announced to convert a former Ministry of Defence site at Coltishall in Norfolk into a Category C prison.
Mr Straw also said the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill would be amended to introduce a minimum tariff of two years for those imprisoned for public protection.Mr Straw also said the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill would be amended to introduce a minimum tariff of two years for those imprisoned for public protection.