Image caption, Dartmoor Prison is under investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Article information Author, Charlotte Cox Role, BBC South West Investigative Service 28 June 2024, 06:41 BST
Updated 1 hour ago
The prison union at Devon Prison, where an investigation into high levels of radioactive radon gas is underway, said staff were concerned about their health.
Responses to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by the BBC revealed that peak radon levels detected at Dartmoor Prison in 2020 and 2023 were 10 times the recommended workplace limit.
A Prison Service spokesman said: “Prisoners will be gradually returned to Dartmoor Prison following consultation with the Health and Safety Executive as mitigation measures to limit exposure to radon continue to be implemented.”
Image caption: Over 300 prisoners believed to have sought legal advice
They said: “We continue to work closely with the Health and Safety Executive and keep the situation under regular review.”
Radon is an odorless radioactive gas produced by the decay of uranium in rocks and soil.
It is recognised as the leading cause of lung cancer in the UK.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched an investigation in December, the same month the first inmates were transferred from the prison.
More than 300 inmates and former inmates are believed to have spoken to lawyers about possible radon exposure.
Sarah Rigby, south west representative for the Prison Officers' Association (POA), said “several” of the 126 staff it represents at Dartmoor had contacted the union.
“The majority of our members are concerned about the presence of radon on Dartmoor,” she said.
“They're obviously concerned about how this is going to affect their health in the future, which may not be known for 10, 20, 30 years,” Rigby said.
“Protect Yourself”
“They watch prisoners being transferred out, but they still work there every day. I understand why they're concerned,” she said.
“There's nothing they can do to protect themselves.”
“Inmates feel that the prison and the Department of Corrections are not doing enough to address their concerns and that things are not moving quickly enough,” Rigby said.
The Ministry of Justice said it was continuing to provide updates to staff and unions.
Mr Rigby said that as of June 14, 138 prisoners remained in Dartmoor prison, less than a quarter of its capacity of 640.
According to Ministry of Justice figures, Dartmoor prison held 677 prisoners in November 2023, but this fell to 243 in May 2024, according to the latest official figures available.
According to the Ministry of Justice, as of June 21, there were 87,395 prisoners across the UK, compared with capacity of 88,778.
Rigby said there was enough space nationwide for “about three more weeks.”
“We all know that prisons are overcrowded and we need space on Dartmoor, but the reality is that if the HSE says it can't be used, it can't be used.”
Peak Level
Radon is measured in becquerels per cubic meter of air (bq/m3).
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the average level in a UK home is 20 bq/m3.
Official guidance says levels could be even higher in areas rich in granite, such as Dartmoor in Devon and parts of Cornwall.
According to the FOI response, average annual radon levels peaked at 2,988 bq/m3 in one area of ​​the prison in 2020, according to one of the measuring devices installed throughout the building.
It is understood that the 2020 measurements were taken in “non-accommodation areas”.
Meanwhile, in 2023, in “Building A Cellular Accommodation,” the highest recorded level, seasonally adjusted to calculate the annual average, was 3,123 bq m-3.
While these were maximum values ​​in certain areas, measurements across prisons varied widely.
One measurement showed that concentrations had fallen to as low as 5 bq m-3 in one area of ​​the prison in 2020, but in 2023 the lowest level detected in one area by one recording device was 9 bq m-3.
HMPS is understood to have been “removing” prisoners whose radon levels in their cells reached 154bq/m3.
The BBC asked prison authorities how much public money has been spent so far on reducing radon levels, but they refused to release figures.
Image captionRadon Association president Dr Maria Dugdale said the readings were worrying.
Dr Maria Dugdale, president of the Radon Association, said: “It is worrying that such high levels have been found but not surprising given the location.”
“What really matters with radon is not just the level you measure, but the length of time you stay there.
“If someone spends a significant amount of time with this level of concentration, it can cause health problems.
“If high levels of radon are detected in a workplace, remedial measures should be considered and implemented, and further monitoring should be carried out.”
She added: “I think the tricky part is that there's such a wide range of radon concentrations that it's virtually impossible to know how much time people have spent in different areas.”
“Everyone is at risk”
One former inmate, who asked to remain anonymous, said he received a letter detailing the estimated “radiation exposure level” he had received, which he said was above the “annual radiation exposure limit” for the general public.
“Everyone was at risk, not just the prisoners but the staff as well.
“I just try not to think about it. I don't think anyone in the prison is to blame. I think a lot of it comes from above.”
The King's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is thought to have previously closed off or restricted access to certain areas of prisons affected by radon, whilst using fans and ventilation systems.
Installation of machines to reduce radon concentrations appears to have already been completed.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice continues to take measures to maintain prison capacity and monitoring is believed to be ongoing.
Image source: UK Health Security Agency
Image caption: A map showing radon levels in England. The darker the colour, the higher the likelihood of concentrations being high.
Mark Day, deputy director of the Prison Reform Trust, said Dartmoor was an example of “a poorly located, old Victorian prison that should have been closed decades ago”.
He said the prison population is expected to grow to 114,800 by March 2028. “Given the dangerous levels of radon found, decommissioning entire prison blocks is necessary but will only exacerbate the capacity crisis currently facing the prison system.”
FOI responses from HMPPS and the Ministry of Justice stated that “no prisoners or staff have reported illness or adverse reactions from exposure to radon.”
“There are no safety implications for staff or prisoners remaining on site.”
It added: “We have been monitoring radon levels at Dartmoor Prison for the past few years and have already taken several steps to address the initial findings and protect prisoners and staff.”
An HSE spokesman said: “We have written to HMPPS to inform them of the legal requirements regarding exposure to radon.”
“HMPPS has a legal duty to keep prisoners and staff safe.
“However, the investigation is ongoing and we are unable to comment further at this time.”
It added that the prison had failed to provide a humane, fair and safe environment for prisoners.
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