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Titan prisons plans 'abandoned' | Titan prisons plans 'abandoned' |
(20 minutes later) | |
Plans for three 2,500-place Titan prisons costing an estimated £350m each are to be ditched, the BBC understands. | Plans for three 2,500-place Titan prisons costing an estimated £350m each are to be ditched, the BBC understands. |
Instead, Justice Secretary Jack Straw is expected to reveal proposals for five 1,500-place jails, with two set to go ahead immediately. | Instead, Justice Secretary Jack Straw is expected to reveal proposals for five 1,500-place jails, with two set to go ahead immediately. |
Sources say the decision has nothing to do with the Budget or making savings. | Sources say the decision has nothing to do with the Budget or making savings. |
Crime reduction charity Nacro said even if Titans were dropped, the government still had a strategy of prison expansion that was a waste of money. | |
Public protection | Public protection |
"Resources would be better spent on community sentences, offender rehabilitation and crime prevention," said chief executive Paul Cavadino. | |
"We need a strategy designed to cut our use of imprisonment to levels nearer those of our European neighbours." | |
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said it had consulted widely and listened carefully to all views. | |
BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said the government's plans had yet to be finalised, but Mr Straw would reveal there would be no Titan prisons or prison ships. | BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said the government's plans had yet to be finalised, but Mr Straw would reveal there would be no Titan prisons or prison ships. |
Mr Straw first announced plans for the three Titan prisons in December 2007, which would have cost an estimated £350m each. | Mr Straw first announced plans for the three Titan prisons in December 2007, which would have cost an estimated £350m each. |
He told MPs they would "fulfil our commitment to provide a modernised prison system that protects the public from the most serious offenders". | He told MPs they would "fulfil our commitment to provide a modernised prison system that protects the public from the most serious offenders". |
The five prisons planned as an alternative would be among the biggest in England and Wales. | The five prisons planned as an alternative would be among the biggest in England and Wales. |
HMP Wandsworth, which on average holds 1,461 male prisoners, is currently the largest prison in those countries. | HMP Wandsworth, which on average holds 1,461 male prisoners, is currently the largest prison in those countries. |
The Titan jail plan followed Labour peer Lord Carter's recommendation for an extra 10,500 places in England and Wales in a review of prison overcrowding. | The Titan jail plan followed Labour peer Lord Carter's recommendation for an extra 10,500 places in England and Wales in a review of prison overcrowding. |
Their likely locations were London, the West Midlands and the North West. | Their likely locations were London, the West Midlands and the North West. |
The BBC's Dominic Casciani said: "The idea behind Titan prisons came from looking at the experience of other countries dealing with similarly large prison populations, where there was an urgent need to handle large numbers of prisoners efficiently. | The BBC's Dominic Casciani said: "The idea behind Titan prisons came from looking at the experience of other countries dealing with similarly large prison populations, where there was an urgent need to handle large numbers of prisoners efficiently. |
"Ever since their inception, the proposals faced a great deal of opposition from penal reformers, some criminal justice experts and local communities who thought they might be the site for one of these major institutions." | "Ever since their inception, the proposals faced a great deal of opposition from penal reformers, some criminal justice experts and local communities who thought they might be the site for one of these major institutions." |