Yorkshire town to host new prison

The town of Full Sutton in East Yorkshire has been chosen as the site for one of four new prisons, ministers will announce today, as they move ahead with plans to overhaul the country's creaking jail network.

The Ministry of Justice has confirmed it is applying for planning permission for new prisons in Yorkshire, the North West, Kent and South Wales, as part of efforts to create up to 10,000 new prison places by 2020.

Announcing the decision, prisons Minister Sam Gyimah said the Full Sutton development would help to support hundreds of jobs in construction and manufacturing, as well as creating opportunities for local businesses.

It will also provide prisoners with “places of reform”, he added, “where hard-work and self-improvement flourish”.

“Outdated prisons, with dark corridors and cramped conditions, will not help offenders turn their back on crime – nor do they provide our professional and dedicated prison officers with the right tools or environment to do their job effectively,” he said.

“This significant building programme will not only help create a modern prison estate where wholescale reform can truly take root, but will also provide a thriving, economic lifeline for the local community.”

The news comes just weeks after the opening of HMP Berwyn in North Wales, which will hold over 2,000 inmates.

It also comes on top of a pledge by Justice Secretary Liz Truss to invest an additional £100m to bolster frontline staffing numbers by 2,500.