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Comment on the planned closure of three prisons (13 January 2011)

Commenting on the announcement by the Ministry of Justice that three prisons are to close, Jon Collins, Director of the Criminal Justice Alliance, said:

"We welcome the announcement today that three prisons - Ashwell, Lancaster Castle and Morton Hall - are to close.

"At a time when the Government is committed to substantial cuts in the Ministry of Justice's budget, they are right to close those prisons that are the least effective and the most expensive to run. Closing old and unsuitable prisons will save money and can help to reduce reoffending by focusing resources on better-performing institutions and on improving the quality and availability of effective community penalties.

"However, with these prison closures planned, the Ministry of Justice must deliver on its proposals to reduce the use of prison in order to prevent a future shortage in capacity and address prison overcrowding.

"We fully support the Government's commitment to implementing a 'rehabilitation revolution' and to ensuring that prisons are purposeful and effective, and these prison closures are an important first step towards achieving this."