Prison ships on horizon
The prison ship move is among John Reid's "innovative solutions", the government says
Also In The News
|
All four British sides got their European Challenge Cup campaigns off to the perfect start with victories. |  |
Saturday, 21, Oct 2006 08:11
The Home Office has confirmed that it is considering using prison ships as a solution to inmate overcrowding problems.
Britain's last such ship, HMP Weare, was shut down in 2005 after the Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers described it as "unsuitable, expensive and in the wrong place".
But with prisons reaching their absolute capacity limits, the government has posted adverts in the EU journal for firms to come forward with bids for ships offering between 200 and 800 places.
A government spokesperson said that home secretary John Reid was constantly looking at "innovative solutions" to prison overcrowding problems".
Home Office minister Vernon Coaker told BBC News 24: "What [Mr Reid] is determined to do is to ensure we've got sufficient prison places, and obviously, he's looking at a number of ways of doing that and a prison ship is one possibility."
Yesterday the government re-activated Operation Safeguard, a scheme that sees inmates detained in police cells, with 240 cells being provided by 19 separate police forces.
A Home Office spokesperson explained that the home secretary saw the decision as a "necessary and pragmatic move".
The total number of prisoners in England and Wales reached 79,714 on Friday, 65 less than last fortnight's all-time high.
But a government spokeswoman said that overcrowding problems were more pronounced in certain areas of the country.
"A number of prisoners are being held in police cells under Operation Safeguard but the number changes daily," she explained.
"Implementation started on Thursday October 12th, and in the first instance about 240 cells from 19 forces will be used.
"There is potential for expansion of up to a total of 520 police cells through October and November," the spokeswoman added.
The opposition has previously vehemently opposed Operation Safeguard and criticised the government's lack of foresight on prisons, with Liberal Democrat shadow home secretary Nick Clegg today saying the situation was a result of "inexcusable incompetence".
"Prison cells are enormously expensive, and looking after prisoners will be a huge distraction for the police," he said.