Britain considers transferring prisoners in view of Estonia's overcrowding crisis –

The UK government is reportedly exploring the possibility of sending offenders convicted in England and Wales to Estonia to serve their sentences due to severe overcrowding in the prison system. The controversial proposal has sparked a debate about prison capacity management and international cooperation. Government exploring options for prisons abroad to tackle overcrowding Reports have […]

The UK government is reportedly exploring the possibility of sending convicted criminals in England and Wales to Estonia to serve their sentences due to severe overcrowding in the prison system there. The controversial proposal has sparked a debate about prison capacity management and international cooperation.

Government examines options for accommodation in foreign prisons to combat overcrowding

The UK Ministry of Justice is reportedly considering renting prison cells from Estonia to house British inmates as domestic facilities are almost full. According to The Daily Telegraph, officials are examining “all feasible options” after Estonia, which has too many prisons due to its low crime rate, offered to rent out its spare cells.

With men's prisons in England and Wales almost completely full last month – with just 83 cells left – the government is urgently looking for solutions. The proposed plan to send prisoners to Estonia is seen as a possible way to relieve pressure on the prison system, but has yet to be confirmed as a concrete strategy.

Minister does not want to comment on prison proposal for Estonia

Home Secretary Angela Eagle answered questions on Sky News about whether the British government was seriously considering the proposal to transfer British prisoners to Estonia. While Eagle did not directly confirm the reports, she noted: “I am sure colleagues are considering all possible measures to address the crisis that the previous government left us with in terms of prison places, prisons and the criminal justice system in general.”

Stressing that the current government inherited the problem from its predecessor, she explained: “The last government closed a lot of prison places and didn't replace any of them. So I think colleagues in the Ministry of Justice will consider everything to alleviate the problem. What we cannot allow is that people who may have been convicted of violent crimes or serious crimes do not go to prison.”

Estonia’s offer and potential financial benefits

Estonia's low crime rate has led to under-utilisation of prisons, which the country is keen to monetise. Renting prison cells to Britain could boost Estonia's public finances by an estimated €30 million (£25 million). Talks between British Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Estonian Justice Minister Liisa Pakosta are expected to take place on the sidelines of a Council of Europe event in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Pakosta expressed optimism about the potential partnership, telling The Telegraph: “The UK and Estonia have a long history of successful international cooperation and such a partnership would create further opportunities to benefit and learn from each other.”

Political reactions: mixed opinions on prison rental

The proposal to send British prisoners abroad first attracted attention when former Justice Secretary Alex Chalk floated the idea at last year's Conservative Party conference. The Labour Party immediately criticised the plan as a reflection of the Tories' mismanagement and underinvestment in the prison system. In addition, the Prison Reform Trust described the idea as “half-baked” and raised concerns about the ethical and logistical implications of such a move.

The debate about renting prison cells comes against a backdrop of general concern about the growing prison population in England and Wales, which has more than doubled from around 40,000 in 1991 to over 88,000 today.

Prison release measures and future prospects

The UK government is also taking emergency measures to temporarily reduce prison overcrowding. Starting next week, around 1,500 prisoners will be released early under the new SDS40 scheme, which will reduce the proportion of sentences that must be served in prison for certain offenders from 50% to 40%.

The initiative is scheduled to begin on September 10 and release 5,500 prisoners within two months. The first wave will affect those serving sentences of five years or less, while a second category, which includes prisoners serving sentences of more than five years, will be released on October 22.

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