Prison new build programme set to be announced

Plans to create 8,000 new prison places to cope with overcrowding are expected to be announced by home secretary John Reid.

The Times newspaper today (Wednesday) reports that Reid will tomorrow unveil plans for a new build prison programme after a surge in jail sentences have created a record prison population of 78,443.

The Home Office has reportedly been told that prisons within Wales and England will be full within weeks.

Construction work on any new prisons has been put on hold while the Home Office conducts an internal review on its processes. However, new build construction work has been taking place on existing sites.