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North Yorkshire prison to close
The Government has announced that HM Prison Northallerton is one of four prisons due to close, as it confirms plans to build two new "super" jails in England and Wales
Live updates
Prison protest in Northallerton
Prison staff held a protest in Northallerton today. The prison is due to close, with the loss of almost 200 jobs. The Government wants to close four prisons in total, in favour of two new high-capacity 'superjails'.
Staff are being offered relocation, but with the nearest jail over an hour away, it's feared many will have little choice but to choose redundancy.
Prison staff fear redundancies
Staff have held a protest outside Northallerton Prison which is to close with the loss of almost 200 jobs. The Government wants to close four prisons in total, in favour of two new high capacity 'superjails'.
Staff are being offered relocation, but with the nearest jail over an hour away, it's feared many will have little choice but to choose redundancy. The Union leader held an open meeting early this morning and our correspondent Rachel Bullock was there:
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135 jobs will be lost with closure of Northallerton Prison
Northallerton Prison is to close with the loss of 135 jobs. The Ministry of Justice announced the news as part of its plans to modernise British Prisons.
The news has dismayed many people because of the job losses it will mean in Northallerton, and because of the impact it may have on our prison service.
Justice Secretary defends closure of Northallerton Prison
The Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has told ITV News that the Government's modernisation plans for prisons, which will see Northallerton Prison close, will save around 30 million pounds a year from the prisons' budget.
Statements from POA
POA condemns prison closures
The POA has condemned the announcement by the Secretary of State for Justice that he intends to close four prisons - including one in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.
It says the prison service is in crisis, with staffing levels and morale at an all-time low and that the closures come "at a time when 20,000 prisoners are being held in an overcrowded prison estate, alongside the unacceptable level of violence and serious assults."
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North Yorkshire prison to close
The Government has announced that HM Prison Northallerton is one of four prisons due to close, as it confirms plans to build two new "super" jails in England and Wales.
Northallerton - a male Young Offenders Institution - will close along with Blundeston in Suffolk, Dorchester in West Dorset, and Reading. The announcement was made as the MoJ confirmed plans to build a 2,000-place new prison in Wrexham, North Wales.