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Titan jails 'could be dangerous' Titan jails 'could be dangerous'
(about 13 hours later)
The proposed giant Titan jails could be dangerous and ministers have failed to explain why they would save money, a prisons watchdog has said.The proposed giant Titan jails could be dangerous and ministers have failed to explain why they would save money, a prisons watchdog has said.
The National Council of Independent Monitoring Boards said it had "fundamental doubts" about the idea.The National Council of Independent Monitoring Boards said it had "fundamental doubts" about the idea.
The council said ministers appeared to omit any concern for the importance of monitoring conditions in prisons.The council said ministers appeared to omit any concern for the importance of monitoring conditions in prisons.
Three new Titan jails, each with up to 2,500 inmates, have been proposed in a bid to ease overcrowding.Three new Titan jails, each with up to 2,500 inmates, have been proposed in a bid to ease overcrowding.
The council criticised the government's consultation on the plan, describing it as a "fait accompli".The council criticised the government's consultation on the plan, describing it as a "fait accompli".
Trying to manage the jails would cause "major staff problems", it added.Trying to manage the jails would cause "major staff problems", it added.
'Management problems'
The council said "there will be major and potentially dangerous consequences if services such as health and education are provided centrally, as it will be difficult to protect the most vulnerable prisoners from those who might cause them harm".The council said "there will be major and potentially dangerous consequences if services such as health and education are provided centrally, as it will be difficult to protect the most vulnerable prisoners from those who might cause them harm".
The prisons will be much nearer to prisoners' families than the prisoners are at the moment Justice Secretary, Jack Straw What should prisons look like?
The council's president, Dr Peter Selby, said: "Most of our boards favour smaller units and have negative experience of large establishments and clustering of prisons to achieve efficiency, but at the cost of effective rehabilitation.The council's president, Dr Peter Selby, said: "Most of our boards favour smaller units and have negative experience of large establishments and clustering of prisons to achieve efficiency, but at the cost of effective rehabilitation.
The prisons will be much nearer to prisoners' families than the prisoners are at the moment Jack StrawJustice Secretary What should prisons look like?
"We shall continue to emphasise and carry out our task of monitoring fairness and respect wherever people are imprisoned, and point out the major disadvantages of prisons of a size that present serious management problems.""We shall continue to emphasise and carry out our task of monitoring fairness and respect wherever people are imprisoned, and point out the major disadvantages of prisons of a size that present serious management problems."
But the Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, defended the plans, saying the prisons would not be the large single units feared by many people. In its response to the government's consultation, the council concluded that it had "considerable concerns" about developing Titan prisons.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw defended the plans, saying the prisons would not be the large single units feared by many people.
"These will be prison complexes, prisons within prisons, and one of the benefits of having these large prisons is that we will be able, for example, to have better health care facilities," he said."These will be prison complexes, prisons within prisons, and one of the benefits of having these large prisons is that we will be able, for example, to have better health care facilities," he said.
"Above all, these prisons will be built in the areas of greatest pressure so the prisons will be much nearer to prisoners' families than the prisoners are at the moment.""Above all, these prisons will be built in the areas of greatest pressure so the prisons will be much nearer to prisoners' families than the prisoners are at the moment."
In its response to the government's consultation, the council concluded that it had "considerable concerns" about developing Titan prisons. Sites considered
Prison groups such as the Prison Reform Trust, Nacro and the Howard League for Penal Reform are against the proposals.Prison groups such as the Prison Reform Trust, Nacro and the Howard League for Penal Reform are against the proposals.
Various sites considered
The Ministry of Justice is searching for sites of at least 50 acres for jails of four or five storeys, costing an estimated £350m each.The Ministry of Justice is searching for sites of at least 50 acres for jails of four or five storeys, costing an estimated £350m each.
The initial likely locations are London, the West Midlands and the North West.The initial likely locations are London, the West Midlands and the North West.
The current jail-building programme has a target of a total of 96,000 prison places by 2014.The current jail-building programme has a target of a total of 96,000 prison places by 2014.
A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "The consultation is still under way and the government welcomes the IMB's contribution to the debate. These new Titan prison complexes will not be warehouses - prisoners will be accommodated in small units capable of addressing their needs and offending behaviour.A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "The consultation is still under way and the government welcomes the IMB's contribution to the debate. These new Titan prison complexes will not be warehouses - prisoners will be accommodated in small units capable of addressing their needs and offending behaviour.
"The complexes will also be situated close to those areas which generate the greatest volume of offenders, therefore ensuring that important family and other links can be maintained."The complexes will also be situated close to those areas which generate the greatest volume of offenders, therefore ensuring that important family and other links can be maintained.
"They will represent value for money for the taxpayer and best support the chances of cutting reoffending by building in facilities aimed at rehabilitation.""They will represent value for money for the taxpayer and best support the chances of cutting reoffending by building in facilities aimed at rehabilitation."