London, England, Monday - In order to relieve severe overcrowding in the British prison system, the Labour Government has today revealed secret plans to evacuate the population of the Isle of Wight and turn the whole island into a high security fortress, eventually housing 90% of British prison inmates. The move is expected to bring over 12,000 extra jobs to the island. Construction work on new prison buildings will commence within months. The scheme will cost over £3billion, but is still cheaper than many of the alternative solutions being put forward. Compensation payments to current residents, who will have to be rehoused on the mainland, will run to over £500million. Capacity will be increased by 30% once building has been completed. In the meantime, the Government are having to use police station cells to house the overflow from the prison system during the current crisis. The island already has one prison and has housed some of the most notorious of British criminals, including the "Yorkshire Ripper", Peter Sutcliffe, who murdered thirteen women in the North of England in the late 70's.
The island will house both high and low security prisoners. Three quarters of the island will effectively be an open prison with prisoners free to come and go and hold down jobs just as long as they stay on the island. "This will be the modern day equivalent to sending convicts to Australia and many convicts may choose to settle here once their tarrif has been spent" Prison Minister Gerry Sutcliffe, said today. "Although this is a very controversial proposal, I'm sure with time, it will be seen as a very imaginitive solution to an almost intractable problem".
PA
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