The Prison Service in England and Wales is considering plans to house two inmates in temporary prefabricated cells originally designed for single occupancy, according to leaked documents. The move comes amid ongoing challenges related to overcrowding within the prison estate.
The proposal involves adding a second bed to so-called “rapid deployment cells” (RDCs), steel-framed units measuring approximately 2.9 metres by 3.4 metres. These pods, which include a bed, toilet, and shower, have been installed at more than 15 prisons as temporary measures during previous overcrowding periods. Intended to last about 15 years, the units are typically used for low-risk prisoners and are sometimes given as privileges for good behaviour.
Leaked emails from His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) show an initiative to increase overall prison capacity by up to 476 beds across ten Category C prisons in England and Wales. Prisons identified for adding these second beds include Wayland (Norfolk), Littlehey (Cambridgeshire), Erlestoke (Wiltshire), and Rochester (Kent), among others.
The plans, detailed in an email dated August 27, highlight the urgency due to continued prisoner population growth and fewer new prison places becoming available than anticipated. The email emphasized that only ground-floor RDC units would be deemed suitable for the additional beds.
However, prison governors, officers, and penal reform advocates have expressed significant concerns about the safety and legality of doubling up in these small cells. Mark Fairhurst, national chair of the Prison Officers’ Association, warned that exceeding operational capacity could breach health and safety regulations and put staff and inmates at risk. He suggested such measures might provoke industrial action, despite legal restrictions on strikes.
Tom Wheatley, president of the Prison Governors’ Association, stressed that increasing capacity involves more than installing extra beds. He said additional prisoners would require thorough risk assessments, sufficient staff supervision, and expanded regime activities to maintain safety and security. Wheatley also cautioned that RDCs are among the least secure accommodations in the prison system.
Andrea Coomber, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, characterized the proposal as an act of “desperation.” She noted that while RDCs were initially introduced as a short-term fix, they had been seen as relatively positive environments with lower rates of violence and other issues. Doubling up, she argued, could undermine these benefits.
Latest figures indicate the prison population in England and Wales stands at 87,111, exceeding the Ministry of Justice’s own safety and decency threshold of 81,616. In response to the leaked documents, the Ministry of Justice reaffirmed its commitment to expanding prison capacity, citing a £4.7 billion investment aimed at creating 14,000 new places during the current spending review period. A ministry spokesperson said cells would only be doubled up where it is safe to do so and that no final decisions had yet been made on the plans.