By Eric King-
Prisons across England and Wales are set to receive a £156 million cash boost to tackle the most pressing maintenance issues, the Justice Secretary, Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP has announced.
In an announcement made by the Ministry Of Justice, the department said the new and significant investment was made to update critical infrastructure such as fire systems and boilers, refurbish cells and showers, and also improve conditions for those living and working in prisons requiring the most urgent attention.
The funding is said to build on the government’s previous announcements to transform the prison estate, totalling £2.75 billion. Up to £2.5 billion has been put aside to provide 10,000 additional prison places and create modern, efficient jails that rehabilitate offenders, reduce re-offending, and keep the public safe.
An extra £100 million will also be injected to bolster prison security, clamping down on the weapons, drugs and mobile phones that fuel violence, self-harm and crime behind bars.
Justice Secretary, Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, said:
”This substantial investment will drive much needed improvements in our jails – providing our hardworking staff with the right conditions to do their jobs and creating a safe and decent environment that gives offenders hope to move away from a life of crime.
This government is spending £2.75 billion to transform the estate, with modern, efficient prisons that drive rehabilitation and reduce re-offending – ultimately protecting the public.
Work to deliver new prison places is already underway, with the construction of a new prison in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, Glen Parva in Leicestershire and a new houseblock at HMP Stocken in Rutland, which opened in June.
Plans to convert HMP Haverigg into an open jail with a doubled capacity by the end of the year are also progressing.
The £2.75 billion investment in the prison estate is part of a government-wide crack-down on crime which includes 20,000 more police officers on the streets and stronger sentences for those who commit the most serious crimes.