A UNION has launched a campaign to press for an independent review of prison privatisation.
The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) wants a public debate on the issues surrounding handing jail management to private companies.
The Government is expected to announce in November that Durham Prison will be one of eight to be privatised.
The union said 15 per cent of UK prisons were already in private hands.
Spokesman Larry O’Callaghan said: “The PCS believes that the whole issue has never been properly reviewed.
“There are secret elements to it that seem to be completely against the public sector.
“Maybe the review will conclude that it is a good idea and we should have more private prisons, but let’s review it.”
The union hopes to collect thousands of petition signatures from the public and involve prison reform and prisoner welfare groups in the debate.
G4S, which was at the centre of controversy over its handling of Olympic security, is not bidding to run Durham Prison.
Companies including Sodexo, MTC and Amey have been linked with the bid, and a private-public bid could be submitted by Interserve and the Durham Tees Valley Probation Trust.
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