Concerns for prison's future after radon scare

The temporary closure of a Devon prison has sparked fears for the site's future.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said it began the staged removal of all 175 inmates out of HMP Dartmoor on Thursday after high levels of radon were detected.

But the Prison Officers' Association (POA) said the temporary closure of the jail in Princetown had led to worries about its future, while one MP said the closure "makes no sense".

The MoJ said the government would set out its long-term plans to address prison capacity later this year.

Radon is a colourless and odourless radioactive gas formed by decaying uranium found in rocks and soils.

Levels may be higher in parts of the country rich in granite, such as Dartmoor, according to the UK Health Security Agency.

Inmates had already been moved out of HMP Dartmoor earlier this year after high levels were detected.

Prisoner transfers back to Dartmoor had only recommenced on 1 July before Wednesday's decision to temporarily close the prison.

Sarah Rigby, the POA's national executive committee representative for the South West and Wales, said the decision had come as a surprise.

She said the move felt like a "sudden change in direction" which had raised concerns about the site's future.

"I think it's going to be crunch time now in the next few weeks, because if it's going to cost too much, in reality there are going be some permanent decisions made," she said.

Geoffrey Cox, Conservative MP for Torridge and Tavistock, said the temporary closure "makes no sense at all".

He said it was "vital for the staff and their families that the uncertainty is removed soon".

"We are led to believe that this closure is temporary, but I am puzzled why, in the light of the shortage of prison places, the government has given in to demands to evacuate the prison because of radon gas," he said.

"That problem has been known for several years, mitigating measures were being taken, and the Conservative government did not accept the Health and Safety Executive's suggestion that the gas infringed the legal standards of exposure or was a substantial risk to prisoners."

HMP Dartmoor had been earmarked for closure in 2023, but the decision was reversed in 2019 due to rising prisoner numbers.

The MoJ said it could not say when when the prison would reopen.

"Public safety will always be this government’s priority," it added.

It said the government was taking further advice from specialists and would update staff at the prison accordingly.

The government is due to set out its plans for prison capacity and building new jails later this year, according to the MoJ.

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