Call for sprinklers at new prison

An MP is urging the government to reconsider a decision not to fit sprinklers in the new multi-million pound prison planned for Peterborough.

The city's MP Helen Clark is calling on the Home Secretary, David Blunkett, to improve fire safety in the Category B 840-bed jail.

She has been joined by Peterborough's Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate, Stewart Jackson.

He said he fears the decision is down to "short-sighted cost cutting".

Safety fear

The Home Office has said sprinklers are not a necessity, and could increase the risk of suicide among prisoners.

But Cambridgeshire's Chief Fire Officer, Tom Carroll, said he was shocked at the decision.

Mr Carroll said modern sprinklers would not pose a safety problem at the jail.

"I can fully understand the need to take the health and safety of all personnel into account, but modern sprinkler systems can be concealed above the ceiling, they don't need to protrude" said Mr Carroll.

Last year, more than 670 fires were started deliberately in prisons in England and Wales.