Leaked Documents Show Plans to Double Up Prisoners in One-Person Prefab Cells

The Prison Service has drawn up plans to "double up" hundreds of prisoners in temporary prefabricated cells originally built for one person, according to leaked documents cited by The Guardian.

The plans were reportedly made at the request of the Ministry of Justice as England and Wales continue to face an overcrowding crisis in their prison system.

According to the leaked documents, governors of 10 category C prisons have been asked to sign off on the installation of second beds in what are known as "rapid deployment cells" (RDCs), which are temporary prefabricated units.

The Guardian reported that the move would breach safe occupancy limits set for the single-occupant cells.

The Guardian said it had reviewed leaked emails detailing the plans, though further specifics of the proposal, including timelines for implementation and the exact number of prisoners affected, were not immediately available.

The Ministry of Justice and the Prison Service have not yet publicly responded to the reported plans.