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Plans for 'super-prison' expected 'Super-prison' plan is confirmed
(about 2 hours 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 has been confirmed by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.
It is believed the new unit will replace ageing jails in both Aberdeen and Peterhead. The new publicly-run unit will replace ageing Victorian 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 prisons.
Mr MacAskill is also expected to announce further funding to support the SNP government's commitment to publicly-run prisons in Scotland. During a visit to Peterhead Prison earlier, Mr MacAskill also announced funding of £120m annually, allowing not only the construction of a new unit, but also further investment in the existing prisons.
'Not for profit' This will be a prison run in the public sector, for the public good, and not for private profit Kenny MacAskillJustice Secretary
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.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. He said: "After years of indecision we are today 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.""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.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.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.He said the plan was not to build additional prisons, but to replace those which were no longer fit for purpose.
An independent commission will be set up to consider how imprisonment is currently being used, with details of its membership due to be announced in coming weeks.
Prisons should not be filled up with minor offenders at the tax payers expense, added MacAskill, but instead should be for the purpose of detaining dangerous criminals and punishing serious offences.