Nigel Farage’s proposal to establish temporary prisons for serious offenders has faced criticism from Justice Minister Jake Richards. Richards expressed his view during a visit to HMP Feltham in West London, dismissing Farage’s plan to allocate £5 billion for constructing new ‘Nightingale’ prisons.
According to Richards, Reform’s approach to addressing the prison crisis lacks practicality, focusing on temporary prison solutions. He emphasized concerns about having such facilities housing serious offenders in close proximity to communities.
In contrast, Farage had previously announced plans to build five low-security prisons on Ministry of Defence (MOD) land, aiming to provide 12,400 spaces for “lower category offenders.” Richards highlighted the challenges posed by prison overcrowding and commended Labour for making tough decisions in this regard.
Reflecting on past statistics, Richards pointed out that under the previous government, there were more people behind bars than available prison places. He criticized the Tories for their handling of the criminal justice system and the subsequent repercussions on the country.
Acknowledging the necessity of difficult decisions to address these issues, Richards emphasized the public’s understanding of the government’s efforts to rectify the situation.
