HMP Dartmoor, a category C men’s prison in Devon, is temporarily closing after the discovery of high levels of radon, a radioactive gas, inside some of the cells. Approximately 175 inmates will be evacuated over the next two weeks due to the hazardous conditions.
The Ministry of Justice has assured that there is sufficient capacity to handle the temporary closure, but the relocation will further strain the already stretched prison system. However, the move will not apply to prisoners convicted of sex offences, terrorism, domestic abuse, or certain violent offences.
This incident coincides with the Government’s announcement of new regulations in Parliament to reduce the amount of time prisoners must serve before being automatically released from half of their sentence to 40 per cent.
HMP Dartmoor, built in the early 19th century to hold French prisoners during the Napoleonic Wars, was slated for closure in 2023, but the decision was reversed in 2019 due to rising prisoner numbers. In late 2023, high levels of radon led to more than 400 inmates being removed from the jail. Prisoners had begun returning to Dartmoor at the start of July before this latest discovery forced the complete closure of the facility.
Steve Gillan, general secretary of the Prison Officers‘ Association (POA), stated that conditions at Dartmoor had “deteriorated” since the decision to return prisoners but acknowledged that the closure was “the correct decision.” He added, “The POA knows this has come at the worst possible time with overcrowding, and this could make matters worse, but there is no other option.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson commented, “Our prisons are in crisis. This is the most recent illustration of why this Government was forced, in its first week, to take urgent action to release pressure on the estate. It is also why we are committed to building new prison places to lock up the most dangerous offenders and protect the public.
Figures published on July 12 indicated there were barely 700 places left in the adult male estate, well below the buffer the Ministry of Justice deems necessary to handle such shocks as the closure of HMP Dartmoor.
As the evacuation proceeds, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and security of both the inmates and the staff, while also addressing the broader issues of overcrowding and infrastructure within the prison system.
