Sending UK prisoners to be detained abroad
Striking deals with approved countries to take UK prisoners is a controversial but increasingly discussed solution to alleviate the severe overcrowding in UK prisons.
The current crisis in 2025 sees UK prisons operating at near or beyond capacity, with emergency measures being taken, such as early releases and the use of police cells. Outsourcing prisoners to approved countries would bring immediate relief for overcrowded prisons.
Transferring inmates to secure, vetted facilities abroad gives the UK time to expand or reform its penal infrastructure.
Cost efficiency could be achieved via lower costs abroad. Countries with lower operational costs may be able to house prisoners at a lower daily rate than in the UK. Budget savings could be redirected to rehabilitation programs, mental health services, and prison staff salaries in the UK.
The focus could be on reform and rehabilitation. Non-violent or lower-risk prisoners could be sent abroad, allowing UK prisons to better focus resources on more serious offenders and complex cases.
The UK could gain access to specialized services because some countries may offer high-quality rehabilitation or vocational training programs tailored to specific needs.
There are international precedents, in that countries like Norway and the Netherlands have made or considered similar arrangements. An example is offered by Norway renting prison space in the Netherlands. The UK can develop a legal framework for bilateral agreements under existing human rights law, ensuring ethical and legal standards.
Outsourcing can be framed as a temporary measure while the UK undertakes overdue reforms in sentencing policy, parole, and alternative punishments. And visible crisis resolution might boost the political will for broader criminal justice reform.
The policy would enhance public safety through better prisoner management. Reducing overcrowding reduces violence, stress, and staffing strain in domestic prisons, creating safer environments for both staff and inmates.
There could be a reduced reoffending risk. More effective rehabilitation, either abroad or through freed-up resources at home, could contribute to lower reoffending rates.
To make this strategy viable and ethical, the UK must choose approved countries with high prison standards and compatible legal systems. It must ensure prisoners’ rights under UK and international law, including access to legal counsel and family contact. It must maintain oversight, including regular inspections and reporting. And it should allow voluntary transfer for categories of prisoners, particularly those serving short-term or lower-risk sentences, and set clear time limits and conditions for return or release.
While not a silver bullet, outsourcing UK prisoners to approved countries can be a strategic stop-gap measure to ease immediate overcrowding while enabling the UK to invest in longer-term criminal justice solutions. It offers a pragmatic blend of cost relief, humanitarian benefit, and operational flexibility, provided it is executed with strong safeguards and a clear reform road map.
Madsen Pirie