Future of empty Devon prison hangs in the balance

Dartmoor: The future of Dartmoor Prison is looking a bit shaky right now. The government’s spending review later this year could decide if it gets the funds needed to reopen.

Last summer, they moved the last 175 inmates out because they found high levels of radon gas, which is pretty common in Devon and Cornwall. Before that, around 400 prisoners were transferred earlier in 2024, just as some were coming back.

But here’s the kicker: nobody knows how long “temporarily” really means. Local politicians are scratching their heads, unsure if the prison will ever reopen. It all seems to hinge on whether the government sees it as a priority when they look at their budget this summer.

A spokesperson from the Prison Service mentioned that any funding needed to tackle the radon issue will be decided in the upcoming spending review. Meanwhile, the country is facing a shortage of prison cells, which isn’t helping the situation.

To ease the pressure, the government has cut down the time many fixed-term prisoners need to serve from 50% to 40% of their sentences. They’ll review that policy in March next year.

Even though there are no prisoners at Dartmoor right now, the spokesperson assured that no staff have lost their jobs. They’re working hard to support staff and find them alternative roles.

A few staff members are still around to keep an eye on the place, and they’re collaborating with unions during this closure. The spokesperson said they made the decision to close the site temporarily after closely monitoring the radon situation.

They’re also getting advice from specialists to figure out how to reopen as soon as possible. The radon levels detected in 2020 and 2023 were ten times higher than what’s recommended for workplaces, according to a Freedom of Information request from the BBC.

This colorless, odorless gas comes from decaying uranium in rocks and soils, and it’s more common in areas rich in granite, like Dartmoor. The UK Health Security Agency has noted that exposure to radon leads to about 1,100 lung cancer deaths in the UK each year.

Interestingly, the Ministry of Justice signed a new 25-year lease on the prison in 2023, which means they’re committed to at least 10 years of that lease. The land is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall.

According to the Dartmoor Prison Museum’s website, the first prisoners arrived on May 22, 1809, and the place was full by the end of that year. It’s been overcrowded ever since.

Originally designed for 640 prisoners, it housed 682 in October 2023. But right now? It’s empty.