Legal News

Justice Secretary Liz Truss has announced plans to create 5,000 modern prison places, building on the government’s commitment to create up to 10,000 modern places, aimed at reducing overcrowding and creating the right conditions for reform.

There will be four new prisons across England and Wales, to replace old and overcrowded establishments with new fit-for-purpose buildings.

Sites in Full Sutton in Yorkshire, Hindley in Wigan, Rochester in Kent and Port Talbot in South Wales have been earmarked for development as part of the government’s commitment to build up to 10,000 modern prison places by 2020, backed by £1.3 billion to transform the prison service estate.

The Ministry of Justice says that proposed new builds will also act as a boost to regional economies across the country – creating up to 2,000 jobs in the construction and manufacturing industries and new opportunities for local businesses.

Final decisions on the new prisons will be subject to planning approvals, as well as value for money and affordability.

Justice Secretary Elizabeth Truss said:

“We cannot hope to reduce re-offending until we build prisons that are places of reform, where hard work and self-improvement flourish.

“Outdated prisons, with dark corridors and cramped conditions, will not help offenders turn their back on crime – nor do they provide our professional and dedicated prison officers with the right tools or environment to do their job effectively.

“This significant building programme will not only help create a modern prison estate, where wholescale reform can truly take root – but will also provide a thriving, economic lifeline for the local community, creating hundreds of jobs for local people and maximising opportunities for businesses.”

The announcement comes weeks after the opening of HMP Berwyn – a new, modern prison in north Wales, which will hold more than 2,000 prisoners.

The government says construction of this new prison has already contributed more than £100 million to the local economy and created around 150 jobs and apprenticeships, before doors have even opened.

In creating a modern prison estate, old and inefficient prisons will be closed and replaced by the new accommodation.

A programme of valuation work will now begin to help inform further decisions about the estate – announcements on prison closures will be made later in the year.

Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors

Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors are available 24/7, 365 days a year to advise at any stage of a criminal charge, including serious organised crime, violent crime, sexual offences, terrorism charges, human trafficking and modern slavery charges, robbery, drugs offences, business crime and motoring offences.

There are Duncan Lewis offices across England and Wales – and a Duncan Lewis criminal defence solicitor can attend interviews under caution within an hour.

Our expert criminal law department can also advise on prison law, including legal advice on Prison Service Instructions (PSIs) and Prison Service Orders (PSOs), access to healthcare and mental health services, disciplinary hearings before the Governor, applications to the Parole Board and Licence conditions.

For expert legal advice on criminal charges and Prison Law, call Duncan Lewis Criminal Lawyers on 0333 772 0409.

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