Decision Over Open Prison Due Within the Next Week

A decision on whether the former Connaught Barracks site is to be turned into an Open Prison is due to be made within the next week.

That was the message from Prisons Minister Gerry Sutcliffe when he visited Dover on Thursday to see for himself the area where the establishment is being proposed.

He was left in no doubt about the strong feelings of many of the people in the town who were angry that there had been no consultation over the proposal. Protestors were at the gates of the barracks today as Mr Sutcliffe, and the town's MP Gwyn Prosser arrived, and they blocked the way as the Minister tried to leave the site. It was only after a plea from Mr Prosser that they moved aside.

Mr Sutcliffe met with a small group of the campaigners before answering questions from the media. Asked about claims that staff were already being recruited for the prison, he said that this did not mean a decision had already been made. But, he said, a decision would be made in the next four to five days.

And he repeated the assurance already given by the Home Office that the prison will not house sex offenders.

Throughout the past two weeks, more than 7,000 signatures have been collected for a petition which was also due to be handed to the Minister during his visit.