Limited UK prison space delays Jersey transfers

There are longer wait times for inmates in Jersey who have applied to transfer to the UK because of limited spaces in those prisons, the island's home affairs minister has said.

Answering a States Assembly written question, Senator Helen Miles said the average wait time was more than 10 months and 12 prisoners were waiting for approval to move.

Miles said the wait time could affect the welfare of the 12 in regards to seeing family members but added that those at La Moye Prison could still get letters, phone calls and visits.

She added that, according to the latest figures, it cost £84,000 to accommodate a single prisoner per year and it cost £1,603 of taxpayer money to transfer someone.

The UK has a prison capacity of 89,090.

It was at an occupancy of 85,840 earlier this month, weekly UK government figures said.

Almost 40,000 prisoners in England and Wales have been released early since September 2024, official figures found at the end of 2025.

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