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Prison ships planned?

01 July 2003

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Contingency plans for prison ships at Birkenhead and Barrow-in- Furness have been drawn-up in a confidential Whitehall document obtained by the Guardian newspaper. The document, which outlines government plans to deal with an expected surge in the prison population says that any decision to use ships "would be controversial". It continues "...the proposal is novel enough to invite close scrutiny of its legality. Challenges could be brought by way of habeas corpus or judicial review proceedings or in actions for false imprisonment". In 1987 the government introduced a prison ship, the Earl William, to house refugees at Harwich. The ship was constantly picketed by demonstrators objecting to the inhumane and dangerous conditions. The use of prison ships was abandoned after the Earl William broke free from its moorings and ran aground.

Guardian 19.7.93.

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