Latest news with #HMPDartmoor
Scottish Sun
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Labour MUST reopen Dartmoor prison rather than release dangerous criminals from jail early, Tories demand
Robert Jenrick wants the Napoleonic era, 700-place prison brought back into use quickly to ease chronic overcrowding JAIL DEMAND Labour MUST reopen Dartmoor prison rather than release dangerous criminals from jail early, Tories demand Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JUSTICE chiefs have been urged to 'strain every sinew' to re-open a notorious jail — and halt the early release of dangerous criminals. The call over HMP Dartmoor came from Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick who says its year-long shutdown to fix a gas problem leaves crime victims and the public at risk. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 An offender enjoys early release from prison Credit: PA 3 Justice chiefs have been urged to 'strain every sinew' to re-open notorious HMP Dartmoor Credit: Alamy 3 Robert Jenrick says its year-long shutdown to fix a gas problem leaves crime victims and the public at risk Credit: AFP He wants the Napoleonic era, 700-place prison brought back into use quickly to ease chronic overcrowding blighting the prison system. Mr Jenrick told The Sun on Sunday: 'The Justice Secretary should be straining every sinew to reopen Dartmoor Prison. Emergency works should already be under way to fix the problem and free up desperately needed prison places. 'Instead, the Justice Secretary is releasing some of the most dangerous criminals, including sex offenders and domestic abusers who have breached their licence. 'That decision puts victims and the public in jeopardy.' The 200-year-old prison, which insiders fear may never re-open, was found to have high levels of radon in December 2023. All of its inmates were moved out between May and August last year. Its windows were left open for ventilation — allowing insects and bats to move in. This prompted a report last year calling for an urgent decision on the future of the Category C jail. Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to approve reforms allowing inmates, including sex offenders and violent attackers, to earn their freedom having served as little as a third of their sentences. Thousands of prisoners on recall will also serve just a month before being automatically re-released. Fury as vile rapist is back on UK streets despite being slapped with 2 life terms & judge warning 'he will attack again' English and Welsh prisons were holding 88,087 inmates last week — with 1,355 unused places. Internal government briefings suggest that men's jails will run out of space by November if action is not taken. Meanwhile, HMP Dartmoor is not set to accept inmates until at least 2026. Its problem with radioactive radon has been known about since 2020 but it took another three years before anything was done to tackle it. Radon, which is linked to lung cancer, is created by the decay of uranium in rocks and soil. Most build-ups are fixed by installing a pump to extract it from the ground. A Prison Service spokeswoman said: 'To protect our staff, we took the decision to temporarily close HMP Dartmoor and are taking urgent advice from specialists so we can reopen as quickly — and safely — as possible.'
The Irish Sun
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Labour MUST reopen Dartmoor prison rather than release dangerous criminals from jail early, Tories demand
JUSTICE chiefs have been urged to 'strain every sinew' to re-open a notorious jail — and halt the early release of dangerous criminals. The call over 3 An offender enjoys early release from prison Credit: PA 3 Justice chiefs have been urged to 'strain every sinew' to re-open notorious HMP Dartmoor Credit: Alamy 3 Robert Jenrick says its year-long shutdown to fix a gas problem leaves crime victims and the public at risk Credit: AFP He wants the Napoleonic era, 700-place prison brought back into use quickly to ease chronic overcrowding blighting the prison system. Mr Jenrick told The Sun on Sunday: 'The Justice Secretary should be straining every sinew to reopen Dartmoor Prison. Emergency works should already be under way to fix the problem and free up desperately needed prison places. 'Instead, the Justice Secretary is releasing some of the most dangerous criminals, including sex offenders and domestic abusers who have breached their licence. 'That decision puts victims and the public in jeopardy.' Read More on UK News The 200-year-old prison, which insiders fear may never re-open, was found to have high levels of radon in December 2023. All of its inmates were moved out between May and August last year. Its windows were left open for ventilation — allowing insects and bats to move in. This prompted a report last year calling for an urgent decision on the future of the Category C jail. Most read in The Sun Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Thousands of prisoners on recall will also serve just a month before being automatically re-released. Fury as vile rapist is back on UK streets despite being slapped with 2 life terms & judge warning 'he will attack again' English and Welsh prisons were holding 88,087 inmates last week — with 1,355 unused places. Internal government briefings suggest that men's jails will run out of space by November if action is not taken. Meanwhile, Its problem with radioactive radon has been known about since 2020 but it took another three years before anything was done to tackle it. Radon, which is linked to lung cancer, is created by the decay of uranium in rocks and soil. Most build-ups are fixed by installing a pump to extract it from the ground. A Prison Service spokeswoman said: 'To protect our staff, we took the decision to temporarily close HMP Dartmoor and are taking urgent advice from specialists so we can reopen as quickly — and safely — as possible.'
BBC News
09-05-2025
- BBC News
Inmate who took HMP Dartmoor prison officer hostage sentenced
An inmate armed with a plastic prison knife who took a Dartmoor prison officer hostage has been Patterson handcuffed the warder and held him for three hours during the attack at HMP Dartmoor in July 37, admitted false imprisonment, assaulting an emergency worker and possessing an offensive weapon in Matthew Turner jailed him to a total of 22 months, which he must serve on top of his current extended sentence. Plymouth Crown Court heard how Patterson had earlier barricaded himself in his cell because he feared other inmates were going to kill him and make it look like was moved to a segregation unit but falsely imprisoned the prison officer as he was being taken out for officer was released after three hours and suffered reddening to his neck and was off work for two weeks. The court was told Patterson suffered from anxiety and depression as well as paranoia caused by his substance abuse which included taking had been jailed for 11 years at Exeter Crown Court for wounding with intent in October 2020 for an attack on a dog walker in Paignton and was serving that sentence at the Devon jail.
