Prison cells made permanent to ease 'crisis'

Sixty-six temporary prisoner cells in Surrey have been made permanent in an effort to "ease" a crisis facing the prison service.

The prison population has doubled in the past 30 years nationally, while only 500 new cells have been built in the past 14 years, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

The prison service is looking for short-term ways to increase capacity until four new prisons come online by 2031, creating 14,000 extra spaces.

The 66 cells at HMP Coldingley in Bisley were approved unanimously by Surrey Heath Borough Council on 6 June.

There were no questions or debate from councillors during the two-minute item, according to the LDRS.

The cells were installed during the COVID-19 pandemic to allow for safeguarding measures to be implemented.

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