Peter Moore: The shocking cost of Dartmoor’s empty prison

It should be a major scandal. At a time when the country is so short of prison places that we are releasing known criminals early, the Ministry of Justice is paying a “private company” £1.5 million a year for an empty prison. The taxpayer also needs to find another £68 million for essential maintenance even though the prison is not owned by the Government. The prison is Dartmoor and the “private company” is the Duchy of Cornwall. The individual who receives a substantial private income from the Duchy is Prince William. 

The Duchy has done nothing illegal. In 2022 the Government signed a 25-year lease for £1.5 million a year. They also agreed to pay up to £68 million to repair the buildings owned by the Duchy.  The cost of the lease has more than doubled since the 1980s. The Duchy negotiators took full advantage of the Government’s difficult position. There was a desperate shortage of prison spaces. They could not risk losing vital places. 

Last summer the prison was closed as inspectors found high levels of radon gas. The inmates were moved to other prisons and staff relocated. 

A report last month showed that, since the closure the buildings have now become infested with rats, birds, bats and insects as the windows were left open to increase ventilation.  

Dartmoor prison was built over two hundred years ago for French prisoners during the Napoleonic war.  It was built on land owned by the Prince of Wales, the future George IV and only leased to the Government. This has been the arrangement ever since. 

During the building the cost of timber increased dramatically as it was also needed for the Naval ships. The builder went out of business due to increased costs, a problem familiar to modern builders.  

Between 1813 and 1815 about 6,500 Americans were imprisoned at Dartmoor. Conditions were harsh and, after a riot, seven Americans were shot dead. 

After the war it was empty until 1850 when it was rebuilt as a civilian prison and, over the years, it earned a certain notoriety. 

Here I have a confession. I have spent time in Dartmoor Prison. I was not an inmate but, after I retired from my practice I worked as a locum in all three Devon prisons. It is now a category C prison, meaning that it no longer houses dangerous inmates. 

When I worked there a substantial amount of money had been ploughed in to improve conditions, but it was still not really fit for purpose, although fascinating historically. 

When I was working in one of the basements I was told this was where they hanged inmates. There was also a fountain which was built by Jack “the Hat” McVitie. He was a hit man for the Krays. After he was released, they murdered him. 

The future of the prison will be decided after the Government spending review next summer. In theory the decision should be easy. It could not be reopened until at least 2026 and even then it would need millions of taxpayer’s money just to make it habitable. After spending these millions it would still cost another £1.5 million a year in rent.  Alternatively, this money could be used to build a new, modern prison which would cost far less to maintain. 

The old Dartmoor prison is a world-famous building which would make an incredible tourist attraction. Bodmin Jail has already been converted to a successful if quirky hotel.  

The only thing stopping these plans is the Duchy of Cornwall. They have every legal right to insist on the Government sticking to the legal terms of the lease until 2047 but is it the right decision morally? A hereditary monarchy is an illogical system of government but is popular and seems to work. It will not work if the Royal Family appear to be feathering their own nest at the expense of the taxpayer. As a gesture of goodwill Prince William should release the government from this onerous lease and the Department of Justice can build a new, modern prison elsewhere.