The Westcountry prison will close as inmates have been evacuated

More than 170 inmates at HMP Dartmoor are being evacuated after radioactive gas was found in their cells. Reports indicate that 175 prisoners in the category C men’s prison will be moved in the next two weeks.

A Prison Officers’ Association (POA) representative told DevonLive: “It has been announced that due to dangerously high radon levels at Dartmoor Pier it will be temporarily closed with immediate effect.”

The spokesman added: “Tomorrow they will start decanting the 175 convicts, 40 at a time, aiming for a full decanting by the end of the month. Staff have been informed today and will be temporarily redeployed to other prisons in the area.”

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As HMP Dartmoor prepares to transfer prisoners due to concerns over radon radiation, the situation adds to the challenges facing the penal system. But while the Ministry of Justice said there was enough capacity to handle the temporary closure of HMP Dartmoor, the transfer of prisoners is expected to exacerbate the burden on an already overburdened prison network.

A spokesman for the department said: “Our prisons are in crisis. This is the latest illustration of why this Government has been forced, in its first week, to take urgent action to relieve the pressure on property.”

They added: “We are also committed to building new prison places to lock up the most dangerous criminals and protect the public.”

The Government today set new regulations in Parliament aimed at reducing the time on automatic release for prisoners from half of their sentences to 40 per cent.

This significant change, which excludes those convicted of sex offences, terrorism, domestic abuse or certain violent crimes, comes after Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s stark warning last week. She warned that without reform, the prison system faces imminent “collapse”.

On July 12, it was revealed that the adult men’s estate had fewer than 700 spaces left, an alarming figure under the reserve needed by the Ministry of Justice to deal with emergencies such as the potential closure of HMP Dartmoor.

HMP Dartmoor, originally built to hold French prisoners during the Napoleonic Wars, was once on the verge of closing in 2023. However, due to an increase in the number of prisoners, this decision was reversed in 2019.

By the end of 2023, the discovery of high radon levels led to the evacuation of over 400 inmates. Radon is a dangerous, odorless and colorless radioactive gas

Although prisoners began returning in early July, a recent event necessitated the facility’s total closure.

Steve Gillan, general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association (POA), admitted conditions at Dartmoor had worsened since prisoners were readmitted. However, he said the complete closure was “the right decision”.

He also commented: “The POA knows this has come at the worst possible time with overcrowding and this could make matters worse, but there is no other option.”