Guernsey looks to Jersey for prison overpopulation solution

Friday 30 November 2018

With Guernsey’s prison reaching maximum capacity, Jersey may have to lend a hand (or a few cells) to help its sibling island cope with its rising population behind bars.

Guernsey’s prison is just 22 inmates shy of their maximum capacity and the two islands’ Prison Governors are reportedly in negotiations to see if Jersey can help manage this swelling prison population.

Les Nicolles is currently incarcerating 112 individuals, but the population recently peaked as high as 121. Legally it cannot accept more than 134 inmates. 

Guernsey’s Home Affairs President Deputy Mary Lowe is therefore now looking at ways to manage the overpopulation of Les Nicolles.

During the Guernsey States Assembly this week, she expressed “serious concerns" over the prison population, adding that Guernsey is looking into solutions such as releasing prisoners early to abide by a curfew at home, but tagging their ankles to keep track of them.

Also on the cards is a collaborative approach with La Moye. Deputy Lowe said: "We are also looking to see if Jersey will be able to assist us in any way. It would require a great deal of legislation, particularly in Jersey. There would be lots of issues for us to overcome to actually get there, but conversations are taking place between the prison governors.” 

However, Jersey’s Home Affairs Minister Constable Len Norman is apparently “not aware” of these discussions, nor of any plans for Jersey to help manage Guernsey’s influx of inmates.

Pictured: La Moye prison was recently given the green light for an £8.3million redevelopment.

A spokesperson for the States told Express: “We are not aware of plans for this."

They later added: "Jersey is working in collaboration more broadly with Guernsey law enforcement and will explore mutually beneficial collaborative arrangements over time.”

Express has contacted La Moye for comment and is awaiting a response.