In a significant development in international correctional cooperation, Britain has spearheaded the establishment of a pioneering open prison in Albania. This initiative is part of a £4 million-per-year prisoner transfer agreement between the two nations, aimed at addressing the pressing issue of overcrowding in UK prisons.
The new facility, named Ali Demi, is located in Tirana, the capital of Albania. This city, founded in 1614 by Ottoman general Sulejman Pasha, now hosts a modern correctional institution designed to facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into society. The prison's design features individual rooms arranged in a terrace-style layout, allowing inmates a degree of freedom to move about.
UK prison officers have collaborated closely with their Albanian counterparts to develop this groundbreaking facility. The project showcases the evolving approach to incarceration, focusing on rehabilitation rather than mere confinement. This aligns with Albania's recent history of significant social and political changes, having transitioned from a communist state to a NATO member and EU candidate country since 1992.
The transfer agreement between the UK and Albania encompasses more than just the new prison. Britain has invested in training Albanian prison officers, refurbishing existing jails, enhancing security measures, and providing rehabilitation equipment. Additionally, the UK has supplied a £1.5 million fleet of electric vehicles to modernize Albania's prison service.
This collaborative effort addresses a critical issue in the UK's penal system. As of October 2024, Albanian nationals constitute the largest group of foreign prisoners in England and Wales, with approximately 1,270 inmates. This represents nearly one in seven of the 10,500 foreign prisoners, who collectively occupy one in nine available prison spaces at an annual cost of £550 million.
The transfer agreement targets 200 of the most dangerous Albanian prisoners currently held in UK facilities. These individuals, all serving sentences exceeding four years, will complete their terms in Albania at a significantly reduced cost of £32 per day, compared to £109 in the UK.
"We are ready to populate the Ali Demi open prison, the newest prison in Albania. The project, funded by the Albanian government and with the support of the British embassy in Tirana in increasing and strengthening the human resources capacities, is expected to prepare offenders to adapt as naturally as possible to civil life."
To ensure the ethical treatment of transferred prisoners, a joint oversight group has been established. The Albanian government will produce annual reports on the prisoners and their conditions, with the UK retaining the right to conduct physical inspections. Either country can terminate the agreement with two months' written notice.
Among the high-profile inmates slated for transfer is Koci Selamaj, convicted of murdering schoolteacher Sabina Nessa in London. Sentenced to a minimum of 36 years, Selamaj has served two years as of October 2024. His transfer to Albania could save the UK over £1.6 million in incarceration costs over the remainder of his sentence.
This innovative approach to international prisoner management reflects the complex challenges faced by modern correctional systems. As Albania continues to evolve, having joined NATO in 2009 and pursuing EU membership, collaborations like this prison project may pave the way for further international cooperation in criminal justice reform.