PROPOSALS to bring a new prisoner reform facility to County Durham has divided opinion in the region after an application from the Ministry of Justice was submitted to Durham County Council.

Plans for a 16-bedroom building were sent to the local authority at the end of March, which would see Highfield House on Parliament Street, Consett, become part of the Ministry’s ‘prisoner reform’ program.

Under the scheme, the former probation contact centre will also have associated support spaces, including communal areas, laundry, kitchen, and storage facilities.

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Within the plans submitted to Durham County Council, a two-storey extension to the south of the building would allow the en-suite rooms and various communal areas to be built.

Alongside the room for those that the Ministry of Justice are helping to reform, there will be offices for staff members and storerooms.

To allow for the maximum use of the site, the existing outbuildings will be demolished. There will also be removal of parts of the existing boundary wall to create a new gate with sufficient width that allows the access of large vehicles in the case of emergency.

The Northern Echo: The facility was used as a probation centre, but could now be turned into a reform space. Picture: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.The facility was used as a probation centre, but could now be turned into a reform space. Picture: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is seeking to increase the capacity of Approved Premises nationally to support the prison reform program and respond to the parole board policy which is leading to an increased dependence on approved premises.

The Ministry has advised that they need more than 230 beds to manage the predicted rise of the next four-year period.

If approved, the proposed facility will be operated by the Probation Service and is the first approved premises within County Durham jurisdiction.

The Northern Echo: An indicative drawing of the reform centre. Picture: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.An indicative drawing of the reform centre. Picture: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

As part of the proposal, the Ministry of Justice has stressed that the building will be a community facility, instead of designed to be a place that people serve a custodial sentence.

A spokesperson for The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said: “These premises provide enhanced supervision through 24 hour a day staffing, night-time curfews, compliance with consistently enforced rules and a programme of “supervision, support, and monitoring, which addresses offending behaviour and the reduction of risk”.

“Approved premises work with the highest-risk offenders and are a vital element in public protection arrangements. Effective security is essential for public protection, for offender management, and for the safety of staff and residents alike. Approved premises offer a level of contact, support and supervision that exists nowhere else in the probation service.”

The Northern Echo: The facility will include 16 bedrooms and other communal areas, as well as office space and store rooms. Picture: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.The facility will include 16 bedrooms and other communal areas, as well as office space and store rooms. Picture: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL.

Despite plans going in for the proposed reform centre, those living in Consett and the wider County Durham region are divided on the topic.

Taking to social media, several users disagreed with the placement of the building, saying: “It would be better off on a island in the middle of the sea,” and “It’s not the best – there’s quite a few half way houses in Consett anyway.”

However, others mentioned the benefits of having facilities like these, with one person commenting: “We need more rehabilitation places. Offenders are often released to the streets and reoffend. This was already a probation centre in our town centre where ex-offenders visited - what's the problem?”

This project in Consett is part of a wider scheme to bring reform centres to Aberdeen, Newcastle, Manchester, London and Edinburgh.

A decision on the application is expected by Tuesday, May 17.

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