This week, the Ministry of Justice has laid out its commitment to invest in and upgrade Rochester Prison with local MP Kelly Tolhurst welcoming the statement from the Prisons Minister, Sam Gyimah MP.
The Government has committed to begin the closure of the current HMP Rochester in 2019 to allow for the appropriate management of the prison population. This timeframe will also ensure prison officers and staff will be given the necessary support and advice during the essential upgrading period.
Next year, the Ministry of Justice will begin to work with the Rochester community as it launches its planning application and a full public consultation on how the prison can benefit the area. Importantly, the plans will go through all of the local planning processes and residents will be consulted with at all stages. Kelly has stated she will actively monitor this over the next couple of years to ensure any development does not negatively impact on the residential area, and will update the community independently along the way.
On the Government's commitment Kelly said:
“I am delighted the Government has laid out this timeframe and commitment to our prison staff and community in Rochester, and I look forward to the joining residents in the consultation process.
“The redevelopment of our prisons is hugely welcome as we move towards combating overcrowding and providing a modern and fit for purpose environment for inmates and staff.
“But in doing so we must not forget the interests of the dedicated prison officers at Rochester who deserve assurances that their and their families’ futures will be secure. I am therefore standing ready to support them over the coming months in any way I can.”
The redevelopment in Rochester will form part of the Government’s commitment to build up to 10,000 modern prison places by 2020, backed by £1.3bn to transform the estate. The announcement also builds on ambitious reforms to improve safety in prisons, including an additional £100m to bolster frontline staff by 2,500.