Labour calls on Government to put on hold “reckless” prison closures

In light of the news the Government is running out of prison places, Labour is calling on the Government to put on hold their latest round of prison closures.

With Friday’s prison population reaching 84,987, the prisons system is now over 99% full. Prison closures announced in September will take another 1,400 places out of use over the coming months, leaving the system perilously short of the space needed to lock up serious and violent criminals.

Labour fears that there won’t be space for serious and violent offenders in our prisons because this Government has closed down too many prisons at too fast a pace. Over 5,000 places have been taken out of use by the Government in the past twelve months alone.

Sadiq Khan MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, said:

“Just six weeks ago, Chris Grayling announced that another four prisons would close by spring 2014. But cutting another 1,400 places when there’s already an extreme shortage of room in prisons will leave too many prisoners and not enough spaces.

“Running out of prison places sums up the failure of this Government’s justice policies. The public want confidence that serious and violent criminals are being caught and there’s room to keep them locked up securely. With no space left to house them, communities want reassuring that because of the Government’s incompetence public safety is not being put at risk.

“The Government needs to get a grip before this crisis gets any worse. While it’s welcome they are rushing 400 places into use as a result of our pressure, I am still calling on them to suspend their recent prison closure plans so we can be sure there are enough spaces to get through the coming weeks and months”