Watchdog accuses prison service of exposing inmates to cancer-causing gas
The prison service risks facing severe penalties from the health and safety regulator after it exposed staff and inmates to dangerous levels of lethal radon gas.
An investigation revealed that failures by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) resulted in inmates and staff at HMP Dartmoor, in Devon, being exposed to radiation levels above the legal limit for an extended period.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas, produced by the decay of uranium in rock and soil.
The HSE states that inhaling it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the UK, resulting in over a thousand deaths annually, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
The watchdog took enforcement action twice in 2023, warning that regulations were being violated. The prison was closed in 2024.
Monitoring after concerns were raised in 2023 confirmed high radon concentrations in parts of the prison, including the accommodation areas.
Following their investigation, the HSE has issued a Crown Censure, the maximum penalty the regulator can impose on a government body, equivalent to authorizing criminal charges.
Sky News understands that hundreds of former staff and inmates have sought legal advice, believing they have been impacted by the situation at Dartmoor Prison.
Radon is present everywhere, but there are higher levels in areas with greater concentrations of granite, such as the South West of England, Devon, and Cornwall.
A HMPPS spokesperson said, "The wellbeing and safety of staff and prisoners is our priority. Since 2022, we have strengthened radon monitoring and mitigation across the estate."
World Affairs Correspondent
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