22 February 2007
In brief
Prisoners could be transferred between EU countries without their consent in future under an agreement between EU states announced this week by Home Secretary John Reid. The agreement creates an obligation on member states to accept back their own nationals. Meanwhile a further two prisons have been commissioned by the Home Secretary. HMP Kennet in Maghull, Merseyside will begin taking prisoners in early summer, and a second prison will be built next door to Belmarsh prison in south east London. The Home Office wants to build around 10,000 new places in the next five years.
