UK May Rent Prison Cells in Estonia

The UK government is considering renting prison cells in Estonia to address severe overcrowding in British jails, a crisis exacerbated by recent riots and a rising prison population. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has initiated talks with her Estonian counterpart, Liisa Pakosta, who confirmed Estonia's willingness to rent out its underutilized prison capacity. The proposal, which could be worth £25 million to Estonia, requires parliamentary approval in Estonia. The UK's prison population reached 88,350 at the end of August, prompting measures such as reducing the proportion of sentences served from 50% to 40%. This potential partnership echoes similar arrangements seen in other European countries and is part of wider efforts to prevent the UK's prison system from collapsing.