Protesters take to Houses of Parliament to fight Bullwood Hall prison closure (From Southend Standard)

Protesters take to Houses of Parliament to fight Bullwood Hall prison closure

8:58pm Wednesday 13th February 2013 in Southend

DEMONSTRATORS took to the Houses of Parliament to protest against prison closures.

The Ministry of Justice announced last month that six prisons in England will shut- including Bullwood Hall in Hockley.

The plans are part of scheme to reduce the cost of the prison system, and include reducing capacity at Chelmsford Prison by 132 places.

Up to 2,600 prisoners are set to be affected by the closure- which also include Canterbury, Gloucester, Kingston, Shepton Mallet and Shrewsbury.

The Ministry of Justice is set to launch a feasibility study to see if a large replacement prison housing more than 2,000 inmates could be created in London, the North West or North Wales.

Protesters from the Professional Trade Union for Prison, Correctional and Secure Psychiatric Workers spent the day outside the Houses of Parliament urging MPs to rethink the move.