Full Breakdown
Plan to Double Up Prisoners in Temporary “Rapid Deployment” Cells
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Proposed Doubling Up of Rapid Deployment Cells
Leaked emails reveal that the Ministry of Justice has asked governors of ten category C prisons to approve the installation of a second bed in prefabricated “rapid deployment” cells (RDCs) that were originally built for single occupancy. The proposal, disclosed in an email sent on August 27, would raise the overall capacity of the prison estate by 476 places. The plan targets specific sites, adding extra beds at Wayland (Norfolk), Littlehey (Cambridgeshire), Erlestoke (Wiltshire) and Rochester (Kent), with additional capacity sought at The Verne (Dorset), Wymott (Lancashire), Channings Wood (Devon), Whatton (Nottingham), The Mount (Hertfordshire) and Huntercombe (Oxfordshire).
Overcrowding Crisis and Recent Policy Shifts
England and Wales currently house 87,111 inmates, exceeding the Ministry of Justice’s safety and decency threshold of 81,616. The proposal follows a recent narrowing of eligibility for the government’s early-release scheme, which blocked hundreds of violent offenders from being freed. In response, a ministry spokesperson indicated that the department is investing up to £4.7 billion to create 14,000 new prison places, positioning the doubling-up plan as a short-term capacity measure.
Reactions from Prison Staff and Reform Advocates
Mark Fairhurst, national chair of the Prison Officers Association, warned that the capacity increase could breach health-and-safety standards and might trigger a walkout on safety grounds. Tom Wheatley, president of the Prison Governors Association, argued that each prison would need a full risk assessment to ensure safety for staff and the public, noting that RDCs are among the least secure accommodations. Andrea Coomber, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, described the plan as an act of desperation that threatens the relative stability of RDCs, which have previously been viewed as a positive element of the estate.
Safety and Capacity Implications
Officials acknowledge that installing a second bed is only viable in ground-floor units, and that additional staff and regime activities would be required to supervise the extra prisoners. Critics contend that simply adding bunk beds does not address the underlying overcrowding, and could undermine prison stability and public safety.
Key Numbers
- Current prison population: 87,111 (England and Wales)
- Ministry-defined safe capacity: 81,616
- Additional places from doubling-up: 476
- Planned investment for new places: up to £4.7 billion for 14,000 new prison spots.