UK Prison Service Plans to Double Occupancy in Prefab Cells Amid Overcrowding Crisis

The UK Prison Service is reportedly planning to double up inmates in prefabricated cells designed for single occupancy as a measure to address an escalating overcrowding crisis. Leaked documents indicate that governors at ten medium-security jails have been instructed to develop plans for installing a second bed in "rapid deployment cells" (RDCs).

This initiative aims to create an additional 476 prison spaces. The move follows previous government considerations regarding early prisoner releases, which have reportedly seen U-turns. The plan to house two inmates in RDCs has drawn criticism from prison officers' leaders, who warn of potential health and safety concerns that could lead to staff walkouts. The Prison Governors' Association (PGA) also highlighted that a failure to conduct thorough risk assessments could compromise safety and security within the affected prisons.

RDCs are modular, prefabricated units that can be stacked. Each unit, as originally designed, includes a bed, toilet, and shower for a single inmate. According to an email from a Prison Service executive, the directive to maximize capacity is of "high ministerial interest" due to continued population growth and lower-than-anticipated new cell capacity coming online. The assessment suggests that only ground-floor RDCs are suitable for accommodating a second bed.

Further documentation suggests that implementing these proposals would exceed the "operational capacity" limits of the jails. Mark Fairhurst, national chairman of the Prison Officers' Association, stated that while his members are legally unable to strike, they would raise health and safety concerns if forced to manage overcrowded prisons under the proposed conditions. He added that increasing space intensifies pressure on an already strained prison system and risks destabilizing facilities.

Tom Wheatley, president of the PGA, noted that RDCs are among the least secure accommodations in the prison estate and emphasized the necessity of proper risk assessment for prisoners placed in them to ensure adequate safety and security. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson affirmed that all available options are being utilized to ensure sufficient space for dangerous offenders, stating that cells are only doubled up where deemed safe and that no final decision has been made regarding these specific units.