The first prisoners have been locked up at a new jail that will
create nearly 1,500 prison places, helping to cut crime and make
streets safer today as part of the Government's Plan for Change.
HMP Millsike in Yorkshire is now operational, making it the first
of four new jails to be opened as part of the pledge to create
14,000 extra prison places by 2031, keeping dangerous offenders
locked up.
This extra capacity will help keep the public safe by making sure
the country never runs out of space again.
As a Category C “resettlement” prison, HMP Millsike has been
designed with a clear aim - cutting crime and reducing
reoffending. It includes 24 workshops and training facilities
aimed at getting offenders into work on release and away from
crime for good, so fewer people become victims in the future.
Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, , said:
HMP Millsike is a vital part of our Plan for Change,
building 14,000 new prison places by 2031.
This modern prison has been designed to cut crime. This prison
will force offenders to turn their backs on crime, delivering
safer streets and ensuring there are fewer victims in the
future.”
The prison is the size of 39 football pitches and comes fitted
with security technology to combat the drugs, drones and phones
that have plagued prisons in recent years and risked the safety
of frontline officers.
This includes reinforced barless windows to deter drone activity,
hundreds of CCTV cameras, and X-ray body scanners to spot and
stop contraband entering the prison.
The prison will be operated by Mitie Care and Custody. Education
and workplace training provider PeoplePlus will give offenders
the tools they need to find work on release and stay on the
straight and narrow.
Russell Trent, Managing Director, Immigration and Justice,
Mitie Care & Custody said:
As the first prisoners arrive at HMP Millsike, our focus is on
building safer communities by creating an environment that
promotes problem solving and self-determination to help the
rehabilitation process enabling prisoners to break the cycle of
reoffending.
As a resettlement prison, every element including the design,
facilities and technology is purposfully structured so that
prisoners leave HMP Millsike qualified, employable and ready to
integrate and contribute to society.”
With the country still using many of its Victorian prisons, HMP
Millsike has been built to also stand the test of time. Its use
of modern materials and fittings will keep running and repairs
costs to a minimum for taxpayers.
Its opening is a major milestone in the government's 10-year
prison capacity strategy published in December. This plan
includes 6,400 places through new houseblocks and 6,500 places
via new prisons. One thousand rapid deployment cells will be
rolled out across the estate while more than 1,000 existing cells
will be refurbished.
It follows a £2.3 billion investment to deliver these prison
builds, with a further £500 million going towards vital building
maintenance across prisons and the probation service by the end
of March 2026. The strategy will work alongside the Independent
Sentencing Review to ensure the most serious offenders can always
be sent to prison to protect the public.
Background information
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The first prisoners arrived today, and the population will
steadily increase each week to ensure a safe and stable
ramp-up process.
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Ramp up will be strictly monitored and can be adjusted or
paused should the safety or stability of the prison require
it.
