Change of name for new Worcestershire prison

Mar 7 2008

A NEW Worcestershire prison will be called HMP Hewell, not HMP Redditch as previously planned, it has been announced.

The move came after Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, MP for Redditch, opposed the decision to name the merged jail after the town.

Many residents had been unhappy about the prison, which lies outside the Redditch constituency, being named after their home town.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "Following an extended consultation period, Justice Minister David Hanson MP has announced that the new merged prison in Worcestershire will be called HMP Hewell."

Mr Hanson said: "The extended consultation reflected the significant local interest in the naming of the prison, and I would like to thank all those who took part in the consultation."

The final choice reflects the site's history and location, he said.

It is also one of three names which were suggested by the Home Secretary.

HMP Hewell will encompass what are currently the Hewell Grange, Blakenhurst and Brockhill Prisons.

The jails will remain at their sites near Redditch, but will all come under the same senior management when the new establishment is set up this year.

It will be able to hold 1,428 prisoners across its three units, according to the Prison Service.

The merger is intended to enable more efficient and effective use of resources, said the Ministry of Justice.