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Anger over 'mini prison'

by liamssoft | May 29, 2007 at 04:43 am | 343 views | 2 comments

With Tiffield secure unit closing down due to lack of use, one wonders why it could not be used for housing prisoners.

PEOPLE living close to Northamptonshire Police headquarters are worried that a "mini prison" may be built close to their homes.

The police force has been holding talks with West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) about building a "criminal justice complex" at Wootton Hall.

It is believed the development would see a two-storey building with office suites and a 50-cell holding centre built on a section of parkland next to police headquarters.

But members of the Wootton Hall Park Residents' Association have described the plans as a "mini prison" and claimed they could lead to an increase in crime and anti-social behaviour in the area.

A spokesman for the group said: "We're really worried about the destruction of a green space and the loss of playing fields, but the main fear is about security with criminals coming out of these holding cells and committing crimes in the area."