Damning report into radon crisis at prison

ADMIN DELAYS MEANT MITIGATION TOOK TWO YEARS

- PAUL GREAVES

A DECISION is needed urgently on the future of radon-hit Dartmoor Prison, a damning report by the jail's monitoring board says.

The decaying Victorian prison is currently empty with a skeleton staff after temporarily closing due to high levels of the radioactive gas being detected.

The Independent Monitoring Board for HMP Dartmoor has highlighted how the crisis developed over many months and "fluctuating decisions" by bosses. It has called for clear answers about the jail's future.

Chair of the Dartmoor IMB, Jo Wymer, said: "The future of HMP Dartmoor remains uncertain, with reopening contingent on mitigation plans and funding. As the prison's population was reduced and staff deployed elsewhere our monitoring highlighted the infrastructure decay and showed the urgency for a resolution.

"Now the prison only has a skeleton staff left, the fabric of the buildings will only deteriorate further.

"The closure of HMP Dartmoor has taken some 650 places out of the national estate, led to prisoners and staff being dispersed around the country, and a local community and economy uncertain as to what might happen.