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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Plans for 'super-prison' expected | Plans for 'super-prison' expected |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The building of a new "super-prison" for the north-east is expected to be confirmed later by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill. | The building of a new "super-prison" for the north-east is expected to be confirmed later by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill. |
| It is believed the new unit will replace ageing jails in both Aberdeen and Peterhead. | It is believed the new unit will replace ageing jails in both Aberdeen and Peterhead. |
| Peterhead houses about 300 prisoners, mostly sex offenders, while Aberdeen's Craiginches jail has about 250 inmates. | Peterhead houses about 300 prisoners, mostly sex offenders, while Aberdeen's Craiginches jail has about 250 inmates. |
| The new 700-capacity jail will be built in the Peterhead area, leading to the eventual closure of the current two. | The new 700-capacity jail will be built in the Peterhead area, leading to the eventual closure of the current two. |
| Mr MacAskill is also expected to announce further funding to support the SNP government's commitment to publicly-run prisons in Scotland. | Mr MacAskill is also expected to announce further funding to support the SNP government's commitment to publicly-run prisons in Scotland. |
| 'Not for profit' | |
| The plans will be detailed during a visit by Mr MacAskill to Peterhead Prison on Friday. | |
| The minister believes that his announcement will mark an important turning point for prisons in the north east. | |
| He said: "After years of indecision, we are announcing positive steps to replace Victorian facilities at Aberdeen and Peterhead with a brand new state of the art prison in the area. | |
| "This, like the replacement prison at Bishopbriggs, will be a prison run in the public sector, for the public good, and not for private profit." | |
| Mr MacAskill is also expected to pay tribute to those who have campaigned in the past to keep Peterhead's current prison open. | |
| Previous attempts to shut the facility have been overturned by the weight of political and local campaigning. | |
| He said the plan was not to build additional prisons, but to replace those which were no longer fit for purpose. |