As the repercussions of the pandemic and the barristers’ strike continue to impact the justice system, the need for additional prison spaces has become a pressing concern. To meet this demand, the UK government has implemented a series of measures, including the deployment of Rapid Deployment Cells, to temporarily expand prison capacity. These measures complement the ongoing construction of new prisons and the government’s extensive prison-building program.
Expanding Capacity through Rapid Deployment Cells:
In response to the immediate pressures faced by the justice system, the government has rolled out a new batch of 1,000 Rapid Deployment Cells across 18 prisons. These cells provide shorter-term solutions to accommodate the rising demand for prison spaces. The cells have a lifespan of approximately 15 years and offer additional capacity to address the impact of the pandemic and the barristers’ strike.
Supplementing Planned Building Works:
The introduction of Rapid Deployment Cells is part of a broader strategy to increase prison capacity. Since September 2023, the government has augmented prison spaces by an extra 1,900 places, in addition to planned construction projects such as the new HMP Five Wells prison. This concerted effort aims to alleviate immediate pressures while the long-term expansion of the prison system progresses.
Government Commitment to Public Safety:
Prisons Minister, Damian Hinds, emphasizes the government’s determination to ensure public safety by removing dangerous criminals from the streets. The investment of nearly £4 billion will facilitate the creation of additional prison places, including the construction of six state-of-the-art new jails. The recently opened HMP Five Wells, with a capacity of 1,700, is the first of these new prisons. The second, HMP Fosse Way near Leicester, will officially open next week, while construction is well underway at HMP Millsike in East Yorkshire.
Benefits of Rapid Deployment Cells:
The introduction of Rapid Deployment Cells not only addresses the immediate demand for prison spaces but also provides flexibility for governors to manage prisoners effectively on a day-to-day basis. By expanding the options available for prisoner accommodation, these cells contribute to the smoother operation of prisons. This, along with other measures, has reduced the need to utilize police cells through Operation Safeguard, which provides additional overnight capacity.
Mitigating Disruptions and Creating Extra Capacity:
To minimize disruptions, non-urgent maintenance work is being staggered, ensuring that fewer cells are taken offline simultaneously. Priority maintenance that is necessary for safety or capacity enhancement purposes continues to be carried out. Furthermore, where deemed safe, existing cells are being converted to accommodate double occupancy, resulting in the creation of approximately 800 additional prison places.
Source: Gov[Dot]UK
