MP condemns Government’s refusal to come clean
John Baron MP has received a reply from the Ministry of Justice to his Appeal against the Government’s refusal to answer his Freedom of Information request for a list of sites being considered for new “Titan” prisons. A previous letter from David Hanson MP confirmed plans to build one of the new jails in Thames Corridor/Thames Gateway, but details of sites under consideration would not be released for fear of “prejudicing the commercial interests” of the Government. A Titan Prison would house at least 2,500 inmates – more than double the size of Britain’s current jails. John therefore appealed against this decision.
In refusing John’s appeal, Shahid Malik MP, states: “I believe that release of the information you seek would inevitably lead to increased speculation as to the precise location of potential sites for large prison complexes across the country, thereby affecting our ability to procure land for the sites eventually chosen at a reasonable market value.”
John said: “Ministers have let the cat out of the bag: they want to buy the land for a Titan prison without even telling local residents. Any consultation which takes place after land has been bought is bound to be a sham.”
“The Government has yet again refused to rule out Basildon District as a possible location, despite me raising the matter in Parliament and twice through Freedom of Information requests.”
“We do urgently need more prison places to tackle chronic overcrowding, but Titan prisons are not the way to go: all the evidence shows that smaller prisons provide better rehabilitation outcomes
