News

ANGER OVER NEW DOVER PRISON

The Home Office has confirmed that Connaught Barracks in Dover is to be converted into an open prison which will initially hold 200 inmates, but could hold 400 category "D" prisoners .

They will be risk assessed to ensure they are suitable for an open prison. No sex offenders will be sent there. It has been reported that they will begin arriving before Christmas.

A Home Office spokesman said the open prison would be in use for about five years and would be run by prison staff, some of whom would have to be specially recruited.

Inmates are sent to open prisons to help their resettlement into the community. They are not locked up during the day and are allowed into the local community o­n temporary licence.

Kent already has two of the 15 open prisons in England and Wales - Standford Hill, in Eastchurch o­n the Isle of Sheppey and Blantyre House, in Goudhurst.

The leader of Dover District Council, Paul Watkins, said the barracks, near local schools and housing, was unsuitable.

It was a site of national importance opposite Dover Castle and important for the regeneration and housing needs of the district, he added.

He said: 'We deplore the way these proposals have evolved. The risk of Category C prisoners who are coming to the end of their sentence also being housed on site will of great concern to local people.

"The Home Office and Prison Service will need to give categorical reassurances that local people's safety can be guaranteed. We are calling for an immediate meeting with the Home Secretary Dr Reid to raise our concerns about the possible effects on the local community. Dover already plays a significant role in the life of the nation.

"We already have a secure unit and we are the gateway to Europe. This is a step too far and the Council will continue to oppose these proposals in every way it can.'

The Home Office said the extra prison spaces provided by the barracks would relieve pressure o­n jails while it looked at other options to expand the prison estate.