Citation and commencement

1. This Order may be cited as the Closure of Prisons Order 2013 and comes into force on 28th March 2013.

Closure of prisons

2. The following prisons are closed-

(a)HM Prison Bullwood Hall, High Road, Hockley, Essex SS5 4TE;

(b)HM Prison Canterbury, 46 Longport, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1PJ;

(c)HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Gloucester, Barrack Square, Gloucester GL1 2JN;

(d)HM Prison Kingston, 122 Milton Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO3 6AS;

(e)HM Prison Shepton Mallet, Cornhill, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 5LU;

(f)HM Prison Shrewsbury, the Dana, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 2HR.

Special reasons in relation to the closure of HM Prison Shepton Mallet

3.-(1) The Secretary of State makes the provision in article 2(e) for the special reasons(2) stated in paragraph (2).

(2) The special reasons are that the Secretary of State considers-

(a)that the size and location of HM Prison Shepton Mallet are such that it is appropriate to close it;

(b)that the closure of HM Prison Shepton Mallet will not have an adverse impact on the operation of the criminal courts in Somerset; and

(c)that enough prison places are available in England and Wales to ensure that the closure of HM Prison Shepton Mallet will not have an adverse impact on the operation of the justice system.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order provides for the closure of the institutions mentioned in article 2 on 28th March 2013.

Article 3 concerns HM Prison Shepton Mallet (which was, immediately before this Order came into force, the only prison in the county of Somerset). When providing for the closure of the only prison in the county, the Secretary of State is required by section 37(2) of the Prison Act 1952 (c. 52) to state in the Order the special reasons for doing so. The special reasons for closing HM Prison Shepton Mallet are set out in article 3(2).

No impact assessment has been produced in relation to this Order as no impact on business or the private or voluntary sector is foreseen.