CHANNINGS Wood Prison in Newton Abbot is to get a new houseblock as part of a jail refurbishment programme.

Central Devon MP Mel Stride has said the programme will create 4,000 new prison places across the country.

He said the 4,000 places, part of a £4 billion investment to create 20,000 modern places, will be created across 16 prisons through the building of new wings and refurbishment of jails. Eight prisons will receive new houseblocks, including HMP Channings Wood.

Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said: ’Our unprecedented prison-building programme is the largest in more than a century and will deliver an additional 20,000 prison places by the mid-2020s.

’We are improving our existing prison estate, putting more offenders behind bars, training them for release and protecting the public.’

The Ministry of Justice is also embarking on a large-scale recruitment campaign for up to 5,000 additional prison officers in public and private prisons by the mid-2020s.

Central Devon MP Mel Stride, who has visited Channings Wood in the neighbouring constituency of Newton Abbot to learn more about the rehabilitation programmes available to prisoners, said: ’First and foremost, the investment in new prison places will help us put more dangerous and violent criminals behind bars.

’But crucially the investment will also improve facilities and support for rehabilitation, without which we will never end the cycle of re-offending.

’We must offer hope and a path back to playing a positive role in society for the prisoners who genuinely want to turn their lives around,’ added Mr Stride.