'Just 500 new prison spaces made in last 14 years despite population doubling since 1994'

Just 500 new prison spaces were created over the last 14 years despite the number of people in jails doubling in the last 30 years, the Justice Secretary has claimed.

It comes as the Labour Government has pledged to relax planning laws to speed up the building of new prisons to create 14,000 new spaces over the next decade.

A Ministry of Justice (MOJ) spokesperson said: "Changes to planning rules will unblock unnecessary future delays to prisons being built, as the Government paves the way to open up 14,000 new prison places and keeping dangerous offenders locked up our streets safe.

"The move forms part of a 10-year prison capacity strategy, part of the wider Plan for Change, set to be unveiled by the Lord Chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, on Wednesday."

The MOJ said the proposed reforms will put an end to lengthy delays in the planning process which are stopping new prisons from being built as quickly as needed.

The spokesperson added: "Reflecting their critical importance to public protection, changes to the planning process will make sure significant importance is placed on building new prisons. The Government will also continue its expansion and upgrades in the current estate, noting the role jails play in keeping the public safe."

Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood (above), said: “The inaction and inertia that brought our prison system to the brink of collapse must never be repeated. As part of our Plan for Change, we will get shovels in the ground quicker so we get the prison places needed to take dangerous offenders off our streets.

“Just this week we’ve approved a new prison in Lancashire, showing this government will deliver on its promises. But we can’t simply build our way out of this crisis. That is why we’ve also launched a sentencing review to ensure we never run out of prison space again.”

The prison population has roughly doubled in the last 30 years - to about 88,500 - but in the 14 years to April 2024, the number of available prison places only grew by 500.

The spokesperson added: "As part of its commitment to creating 14,000 places, the Government has already matched that total opening up an extra 500 places since coming into office.

"Earlier this week, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government gave the go ahead for HMP Garth in Lancashire, on greenbelt land, after three years and four months stuck in the planning system. This will allow for around 1700 prison places to be built on the site.

"HMP Garth is not the only site that has faced long delays in getting approval. New prison sites in Leicestershire and uckinghamshire were stuck in the planning system for two years five months and two and a half years, respectively. Without these delays around 5,000 additional places would have been available in new prisons by 2027.

"New figures published this week also revealed that delays to prison expansion plans are expected to add at least £4.2bn above original estimates.

"This week’s Prison Capacity Strategy will work alongside the Government’s recently launched landmark Sentencing Review, ensuring the country always has the space needed to keep the public safe."