The plan to send prisoners to foreign jails - dubbed 'laughable' by insiders

The Justice Secretary has announced plans to rent prison spaces from foreign countries in order to address the increasing demands on the UK’s prison system.

Alex Chalk used his key note speech at the Tory Party conference in Manchester to announce the Government intends to look 'at the Norwegian example and explore renting overseas capacity'.

Prison service insiders in Greater Manchester told the M.E.N. the plan was 'laughable'.

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The Ministry of Justice (Moj) says that while progress is made on the prison build programme, all necessary measures need to be taken to ensure 'dangerous criminals continue to see the inside of a prison cell'.

It emerged last year that Manchester City Council wants to bulldoze the ailing Strangeways prison and move it out of the city.

After the Government announced plans to rent prison cells abroad, one well-placed prison service source in Greater Manchester told the M.E.N: "They cannot staff the service as it is. How would they expect to transfer these dangerous people out of the country maintaining security and safety of the public?

"I could go on and on with how this will never happen just like forcing a prisoner to attend sentencing… it’s laughable."

He added the prisoners were 'masters of manipulation' and would find ways to avoid being transferred out of the country and he questioned how any prisoners moved out of the country would be able to 'maintain family ties'.

Andrea Coomber, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "This is a national embarrassment and one that should come to symbolise the misguidance and