Hundreds of lags forced to share cells to free up spaces in overflowing prisons

HUNDREDS of lags are being forced to bunk up and share cells to free up spaces in overflowing prisons.

Cushy prison bosses have ordered more prisoners to share cells and delay upgrades to rooms to get more places freed up.

Another 800 have been found by putting two to a room – a move set to be opposed by leftie campaigners.

And the latest batch of rapid deployment ‘build a cell’ rooms has also gone online – with 160 Rapid Deployment Cells unveiled at HMP Hollesley Bay in Sussex.

18 forces across the country have been using them.

A total of 1900 spots have been found since September, when the Ministry of Justice were forced to trigger emergency plans to stop them overfilling, and having nowhere to lock people up.

New Fossway prison is opening next week to give another 170 spots.

Hundreds of criminals are being held in police cells because of a lack of space.

And we are paying other countries like Albania to take hundreds more back to their home nations to serve their sentences abroad too.

Prisons Minister Damian Hinds, said: “The Government will stop at nothing to ensure we have enough prison cells to take dangerous criminals off the streets.

“These measures to create a further 1,900 places are providing extra capacity to deal with immediate pressures stemming from the pandemic and its impact on the justice system.”