The UK government is exploring an unconventional solution to its prison overcrowding crisis by considering leasing jail space in Estonia. This proposal comes as British prisons face severe capacity issues, with men's facilities in England and Wales nearly exhausting available cells last month, leaving only 83 spare spaces.
Shabana Mahmood, the UK Justice Secretary, is expected to discuss this potential arrangement with her Estonian counterpart, Liisa Pakosta, during a Council of Europe event in Vilnius, Lithuania. The talks aim to address the pressing need for additional prison capacity in the UK.
Estonia, a Baltic nation of 1.3 million people, has offered to rent out its excess prison space to other countries. This proposal stems from Estonia's low crime rate, which has left its prisons operating at approximately half capacity. The potential lease could provide a €30 million (£25 million) boost to Estonia's public finances.
The Ministry of Justice in the UK has stated that it is investigating "all viable options" to increase capacity, as the prison system is "on the point of collapse." Government sources have indicated that this controversial solution is being considered due to the severity of the situation.
"The UK and Estonia have a history of successful international cooperation, and such a partnership would create further opportunities to benefit and learn from each other."
While the idea of sending offenders to Estonia was initially proposed by former justice secretary Alex Chalk at the 2023 Conservative Party conference, it faced criticism from the opposition and prison reform advocates. However, the current Labour government appears to be reconsidering the proposal, recognizing its potential despite concerns about costs and logistics.
The UK prison population is projected to increase from approximately 89,000 to between 93,100 and 106,300 by March 2027. To address this immediate crisis, the government plans to release around 2,000 prisoners early on September 10, 2024, with an additional 1,700 set for release in October.
Estonia's consideration of this proposal aligns with its reputation as an innovative and digitally advanced society. The country is known for its e-governance initiatives and has the highest number of start-ups per capita in Europe. Estonia's progressive approach to governance and international cooperation may contribute to the feasibility of this unconventional prison-leasing arrangement.
As discussions progress, both countries will need to address various challenges, including cost considerations, prisoner rights, and the logistics of managing a prison facility abroad. The outcome of these talks could potentially set a precedent for international cooperation in addressing prison capacity issues.