New prison not ready for inmates

The jail will offer better educational training for prisoners

Work to complete a new Isle of Man prison building, due to be finished in December, is still continuing.

Poor weather, Christmas holidays and testing of equipment and security systems have contributed to the delay, a government spokesman said.

Prison staff are being given training and shown around the new location before prisoners are transferred from the Victoria Road jail in Douglas.

The new prison at Jurby should become fully operational during April 2008.

Home Affairs Minister, Martyn Quayle MHK, said: "The transition from construction site to fully functioning prison is not a simple matter of handing over a set of keys.

"Personnel from contractors, engineers and installers are required to provide hands-on training for prison officers and maintenance staff prior to transferring prisoners."

Jurby prison is the government's largest capital project, being built at a cost of £41.7m.

It will have 138 cells compared with 92 at the site in Douglas.

The government also claims it will be able to offer better rehabilitative and educational regimes for prisoners.