LONDON, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Four new prisons are to be built in Britain to create 5,000 modern places for prisoners, it was announced Wednesday.
Government Justice Secretary Elizabeth Truss unveiled the plans for the new prisons in Yorkshire and Port Talbot in South Wales, with two existing prisons in Greater Manchester and Kent earmarked for rebuilding.
Truss's plans are part of a government 1.63 billion U.S. dollar commitment to create up to 10,000 modern prison places by 2020 to transform the country's prison estate.
The program is part of a government initiative to reducing overcrowding in British prisoners which currently hold over 85,000 inmates.
Truss said: "Outdated prisons, with dark corridors and cramped conditions, will not help offenders turn their back on crime, nor do they provide our professional and dedicated prison officers with the right tools or environment to do their job effectively."
Wednesday's announcement came weeks after the opening of a new modern prison in north Wales which will hold over 2,000 prisoners.
The Ministry of Justice said as part of the program, old and inefficient prisons will be closed and replaced by the new accommodation. Announcements on prison closures will be made later in the year.
