Extra 14k prison places will be created in next seven years, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood to say

AN extra 14,000 prison places will be created in the next seven years, ­Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood will say today.

Four jails will be built as planning rules are eased together with 6,400 cells developed on existing sites in a £2.3billion spending blitz.

Last week the go-ahead was given for a 1,700-space prison next to HMP Garth in Lancs.

It came after thousands of lags were released earlier this year to free up cells and cut the prison population, which stands at 86,089.

Ms Mahmood said jails were near collapse due to Tory failings and Labour’s plan would keep streets safe by ensuring “no government runs out of prison places again”.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said the plans did not amount to new cash for jails.

He urged Labour to maximise court capacity and deport foreign criminals rather than rushing to release prisoners.

The Law Society of England and Wales said sustained investment was the only long-term solution for the criminal justice system after “decades of neglect”.