British Prisoners Could Be Sent to Estonian Jails to Ease Overcrowding

UK and Estonia in Talks Over Prisoner Transfer Deal

The British government is in talks with Estonia about sending prisoners to serve their sentences in the Baltic country in a bid to ease overcrowding in UK jails.

The Ministry of Justice confirmed that discussions were taking place but said no final decision had been made.

Scheme Would Be Similar to One with Albania

If an agreement is reached, it would be similar to a scheme already in place with Albania, which has seen hundreds of foreign national prisoners transferred to their home countries to complete their sentences.

Estonia Has Modern Prisons and Low Crime Rates

Estonia has modern prisons and relatively low crime rates, making it an attractive option for the UK government.

Prisoners Would Serve Rest of Sentence in Estonia

Under the proposed deal, British prisoners would serve the rest of their sentences in Estonia, with the UK government paying for their upkeep.

Move Would Free Up Space in UK Jails

The move would free up space in overcrowded UK jails, which have been plagued by violence and drug abuse in recent years.

Prisoner Transfer Deals Can Be Controversial

However, prisoner transfer deals can be controversial, with critics arguing that they can lead to prisoners being sent to countries with lower standards of human rights.

UK Government Committed to Human Rights

The UK government has said that it is committed to ensuring that any prisoner transfer deal with Estonia would fully comply with human rights standards.

No Final Decision Yet

The Ministry of Justice has stressed that no final decision has been made on the proposed deal and that talks are ongoing.