Convicts could be held on prison ships under plans being considered by Rishi Sunak

CONVICTS could be held on prison ships under plans being considered by PM Rishi Sunak.

The plan is a bid to tackle the huge overcrowding in jails, according to Government insiders.

Mr Sunak announced this week that illegal migrants would be housed on barges to ease the soaring cost of hotel bills.

And sources said replicating the initiative for lags is on the cards — but has sparked internal fears it would be unsafe and cost millions refitting vessels with prison-style security.

Ministers have been scrambling to find various prison overflow options after harsher sentences and a Covid backlog boosted jail populations.

HMP Pentonville was recently said to be at almost double its capacity, with 1,205 inmates in a prison built in 1842 for 520.

A prison ship was used between 1997 to 2005.

HMP Weare held 400 criminals in Portland docks, Dorset.

Government figures expect Mr Sunak to receive opposition from colleagues, saying turning a boat into a prison would be costly.

Talks were understood to be at an early stage and officials have been tasked with seeing if they could work.

The Ministry of Justice said: “We are exploring a range of options.”