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Dartmoor prison facing closure as ministers announce shakeup of jails Dartmoor prison facing closure as ministers announce shakeup of jails
(14 days later)
The justice secretary, Chris Grayling, has sounded the death knell for Dartmoor prison, one of Britain's oldest and most famous jails, and ordered the immediate closure of four others, including the historic Reading jail, where Oscar Wilde was incarcerated.The justice secretary, Chris Grayling, has sounded the death knell for Dartmoor prison, one of Britain's oldest and most famous jails, and ordered the immediate closure of four others, including the historic Reading jail, where Oscar Wilde was incarcerated.
In a major shakeup of prisons in England and Wales, Grayling has also ordered a feasibility study into building a second "superjail" in west London and confirmed the first new £230m 2,000-place facility will be built in Wrexham, north Wales.In a major shakeup of prisons in England and Wales, Grayling has also ordered a feasibility study into building a second "superjail" in west London and confirmed the first new £230m 2,000-place facility will be built in Wrexham, north Wales.
Justice ministry officials said discussions would begin to end the lease on the 200-year-old Dartmoor prison, which opened in 1809 to hold Napoleonic prisoners of war. It was recently described by a chief inspector of prisons as the "prison that time forgot".Justice ministry officials said discussions would begin to end the lease on the 200-year-old Dartmoor prison, which opened in 1809 to hold Napoleonic prisoners of war. It was recently described by a chief inspector of prisons as the "prison that time forgot".
A final closure decision is some way off as the Duchy of Cornwall lease has a 10-year notice period. But Grayling signalled Dartmoor's demise, saying its age and limitations meant "it does not have a long-term future in a modern, cost-effective prison system".A final closure decision is some way off as the Duchy of Cornwall lease has a 10-year notice period. But Grayling signalled Dartmoor's demise, saying its age and limitations meant "it does not have a long-term future in a modern, cost-effective prison system".
The four prisons listed for immediate closure are Blundeston, a male category-C prison in Suffolk; Dorchester, a category-B jail that holds young adults in west Dorset; Northallerton, a male category-C prison in North Yorkshire and which dates back to 1783, and Reading, which opened in 1844 and was immortalised by Wilde in The Ballad of Reading Gaol.The four prisons listed for immediate closure are Blundeston, a male category-C prison in Suffolk; Dorchester, a category-B jail that holds young adults in west Dorset; Northallerton, a male category-C prison in North Yorkshire and which dates back to 1783, and Reading, which opened in 1844 and was immortalised by Wilde in The Ballad of Reading Gaol.
The decision to close the four prisons described as uneconomic by the justice secretary means that Grayling has so far ordered the closure of 11 prisons this year, bringing the total number of places in older prisons removed from the system to 4,200.The decision to close the four prisons described as uneconomic by the justice secretary means that Grayling has so far ordered the closure of 11 prisons this year, bringing the total number of places in older prisons removed from the system to 4,200.
It is estimated the closure of the four prisons will save £30m from the annual prison budget. The justice ministry said they were all either expensive to run or in need of substantial capital investment in the next few years.It is estimated the closure of the four prisons will save £30m from the annual prison budget. The justice ministry said they were all either expensive to run or in need of substantial capital investment in the next few years.
At the same time, the justice secretary announced on Wednesday that three other prisons would be given new roles. The Verne in south Dorset is to become an immigration removal centre, with 600 places. Downview in Surrey will hold male rather than female offenders and Warren Hill, a young offender institution, will also be used to hold adult male prisoners.At the same time, the justice secretary announced on Wednesday that three other prisons would be given new roles. The Verne in south Dorset is to become an immigration removal centre, with 600 places. Downview in Surrey will hold male rather than female offenders and Warren Hill, a young offender institution, will also be used to hold adult male prisoners.
The confirmation that the first 2,000-place superjail is to go ahead at the former Firestone site in Wrexham is the first substantial indication that Grayling's "new for old" strategy is being implemented.The confirmation that the first 2,000-place superjail is to go ahead at the former Firestone site in Wrexham is the first substantial indication that Grayling's "new for old" strategy is being implemented.
Treasury approval has been given for the £230m project. Work is due to start next summer with an opening date earmarked for late 2017.Treasury approval has been given for the £230m project. Work is due to start next summer with an opening date earmarked for late 2017.
It has already been announced that a further 1,260 places are to be provided in extra "house blocks" built within the perimeters of the existing Parc prison in south Wales, Peterborough prison, the Mount prison in Hertfordshire and Thameside prison in south-east London. The feasibility study to build a second superjail on the site of the Feltham young offender institution in west London will look at providing a large adult prison and a new youth facility on neighbouring sites but no indication has yet been given of its overall size.It has already been announced that a further 1,260 places are to be provided in extra "house blocks" built within the perimeters of the existing Parc prison in south Wales, Peterborough prison, the Mount prison in Hertfordshire and Thameside prison in south-east London. The feasibility study to build a second superjail on the site of the Feltham young offender institution in west London will look at providing a large adult prison and a new youth facility on neighbouring sites but no indication has yet been given of its overall size.
The package reflects the changing composition of the 84,000-strong prison population in England and Wales, which has dropped by 2,700 in the past 12 months. It also forms part of the drive to find more than £500m of spending cuts from the prison budget.The package reflects the changing composition of the 84,000-strong prison population in England and Wales, which has dropped by 2,700 in the past 12 months. It also forms part of the drive to find more than £500m of spending cuts from the prison budget.
Grayling said the package was the latest part of his plan to modernise prisons, bring down costs and ensure that by the next election there were more prison places than the government had inherited in 2010.Grayling said the package was the latest part of his plan to modernise prisons, bring down costs and ensure that by the next election there were more prison places than the government had inherited in 2010.
"Of course the reorganisation of our prison estate which we are undertaking means some difficult decisions – but we have to make sure that we have modern, affordable prisons that give the best opportunity for us to work with offenders to stop them committing more crimes when they leave," he said."Of course the reorganisation of our prison estate which we are undertaking means some difficult decisions – but we have to make sure that we have modern, affordable prisons that give the best opportunity for us to work with offenders to stop them committing more crimes when they leave," he said.
But Juliet Lyon of the Prison Reform Trust said that closing small local prisons and replacing them with supersized jails would not reduce crime or make communities safer.But Juliet Lyon of the Prison Reform Trust said that closing small local prisons and replacing them with supersized jails would not reduce crime or make communities safer.
"You can and should modernise the prison system without throwing taxpayers' money down the prison-building drain," she said."You can and should modernise the prison system without throwing taxpayers' money down the prison-building drain," she said.
"The millions secured for new-build prisons could be more effectively spent on robust community service, treatment for addicts and care for people who are mentally ill," she said."The millions secured for new-build prisons could be more effectively spent on robust community service, treatment for addicts and care for people who are mentally ill," she said.
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