REOPENING Dartmoor Prison could depend on the government wanting to spend money on it when finances are reviewed later this year.

A final batch of 175 inmates were moved to other prisons last summer after high levels of radon were detected at the Napoleonic-era jail.

Around 400 prisoners were transferred earlier in 2024. Some were just returning when the decision was made to close the prison to all inmates temporarily.

Local politicians have expressed uncertainty about whether the prison will re-open.

The issue is down to whether the prison is seen as a priority when the government looks at its spending plans.

A Prison Service spokesman said: ‘Funding for any works identified to address radon at the site will be determined through the upcoming spending review.’

This is while the country is short of prison capacity.

Although no prisoners are in Dartmoor currently, the Prison Service spokesperson said no staff have been made redundant and that it is ‘working tirelessly to ensure staff are supported and safely placed in alternative roles’.

A small number of staff remain to oversee the jail, the spokesperson said, adding that it was working with staff and unions during the closure.

The spokesman said: ‘After close monitoring of the situation at HMP Dartmoor, we took the decision to temporarily close the site.

‘We continue to take advice from specialists to explore how it can be reopened as quickly as possible.’

Peak radon levels were detected at the prison in 2020 and in 2023 were 10 times recommended workplace limits.

The Ministry of Justice signed a new 25-year lease on the prison in 2023, and it is understood that it has to honour at least 10 years of that. The land is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall.