Transport minister Richard Holden says extra prison space should be created to jail ‘persistent’ shoplifters

The Government will keep building jails to house shoplifters, a minister vowed today.

Transport minister Richard Holden said prison space should be created to take ‘persistent’ shoplifters.

He was speaking after reports that ministers are drawing up plans for mandatory jail terms for repeat shoplifters in a new crime and justice Bill to be announced later this year.

Asked about the plans on radio station LBC, Mr Holden said: ‘If people are persistently breaking the law, then they should go to jail, and if we need to build more prison places for them, then so be it.

‘I think there has been an issue where sometimes the police haven’t concentrated enough on some of these offences.

Transport minister Richard Holden said prison space should be created to take ‘persistent’ shoplifters

‘But they really do have a huge impact on our high streets and shops right across the country.

‘If people are particularly prolific on that, then yes, they do need jail time.’

It came as Labour accused the Government of presiding over ‘prison chaos’ as the jails approach breaking point.

The Opposition said 1,500 criminals could dodge jail this year due to a lack of cells.

Jails in England and Wales are running just 970 spaces below capacity and official projections say there will be 89,100 prisoners by November but only 87,573 operational prison places.

Labour’s shadow justice secretary Steve Reed said: ‘Our prisons are turning criminals away because the Conservatives failed to build the cells they promised.

‘The situation has become so chaotic that the Conservative Government has instructed judges not to lock up dangerous criminals, leaving them to roam the streets and seek out new victims.

‘In government will get on and deliver the prison places we need to ensure that dangerous criminals are where they belong – behind bars. That’s how we will prevent crime, punish criminals and protect communities.’