A new ‘five strikes and you’re out’ policy with automatic jail terms for repeat offenders has been unveiled by Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick.
He said crooks convicted of five or more offences would be jailed for at least a year.
It would aim to combat huge numbers of offences being committed by prolific offenders.
The policy would require tens of thousands of extra prison places, funded partly by selling off inner city jail sites in London and other cities.
The land would be ‘sold with planning permission for high-rise residential development’, Mr Jenrick said.
Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick (pictured) said crooks convicted of five or more offences would be jailed for at least a year
He said selling London’s Wormwood Scrubs (pictured), Wandsworth, Brixton and Pentonville jails could raise £1.6billion alone
The policy would require tens of thousands of extra prison places, funded partly by selling off inner city jail sites in London and other cities. (Pictured, a view inside Pentonville Prison)
The land would be ‘sold with planning permission for high-rise residential development’, Mr Jenrick said. (Stock photo of Pentonville Prison)
Money from the sales would be reinvested in new ‘mega-prisons’ located in cheaper areas of the country to hold 1,500 or more inmates.
‘If we have the extra capacity, then we can introduce a ‘five strikes and you’re out’ rule,’ Mr Jenrick said.
‘This will end the farce of career criminals, many with 25 or more prior convictions, committing yet more crimes and not going to jail for it.
‘This will enable us to bring about the much safer society we need. Altogether, this reform would significantly cut crime – by around a third.’
He said selling London’s Wormwood Scrubs, Wandsworth, Brixton and Pentonville jails could raise £1.6billion alone.