Titan prisons to be rebranded as ‘cluster jails’

Controversial “Titan prisons” proposed by the Government to ease jail overcrowding have met with such widespread opposition that ministers are considering changing their name in a “rebranding” exercise.

Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, last year announced plans for a network of three US-style extra-large jails, each housing around 2,500 prisoners.

But the idea has been criticised by the chief inspector of prisons, offenders’ charities and opposition parties, while the Prison Officers’ Assocation has warned that it would be difficult to maintain order in such large jails.

Internal Whitehall documents, seen by The Sunday Telegraph, reveal that the Ministry of Justice is considering dropping the “Titan” name because it may send out the wrong message. Instead, the planned jails could be renamed “cluster prisons”.

By Ben Leach – Telegraph.co.uk
31 Aug 2008

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2651123/Titan-prisons-to-be-rebranded-as-cluser-jails.html