Jo Crotty rejects Labour plans for Warrington super prison

10.05.24am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 1st Oct 2008

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson Jo Crotty has rejected Labour government plans to base a new Titan 'super prison' at the Omega business park development along the M62 in Warrington. Dr Crotty said that siting a new prison in Warrington will be bad for the town.

"This is a bad deal for Warrington. No town wants a super-size prison with 2500 of the most serious offenders in it. There are no positives for our town in this plan and the Lib Dem-led Council and I will fight the new prison every step of the way."

"The Omega site in Burtonwood is supposed to be a centre for industry. The only thing this new super prison would produce is the next wave of re-offenders. Who will want to set up their business on the Omega site once they know their neighbours will be 2500 Class 'A' criminals?"

"This is another example of Labour's failed policies to deal with crime. Labour want to follow the lead of the US and build more prisons with more and more prisoners in them," said Dr Crotty. "Labour's policies have failed. They are desperately looking for more sites to house an out of control prisoner population yet local people do not feel safer than when Labour took over. The Liberal Democrats want to prevent crime by putting more police officers on the street."

Jo Crotty also hopes that Warrington residents will come out to show their opposition to the prison.

"There will be a public meeting held on October 6th at 7:30 pm at Whittle Hall Community Centre on Lonsdale Close. I will be there to voice my concern over Labour's prison proposal and I would urge other concerned citizens to come along as well."