The prisons to be axed can hold up to 1,857 prisoners, but they are old and in a poor state of repair and need to be replaced.

The five new prisons are expected to be able to house up to 2,400 inmates.

New women’s units are to be added to three of the country’s prisons and the women’s prison in Tires should be refurbished to adapt two thirds of its space to permit a number of male inmates to be accommodated, the report added.

Another recommendation in the report is the hiring of 41 new technicians specialising in social reinsertion to accompany electronic surveillance teams.