The Federal Justice Ministry is looking into the option of using a prison boat moored in a Flemish port in order to help ease overcrowding in the country’s prisons. The news is reported in Friday’s edition of the daily ‘De Tijd’.
Our northern neighbour the Netherlands has already used prison ships in the past. One Dutch prison ship was used in Ghent to house asylum seekers during the 2015 asylum crisis. However, if a ship were to be used as a prison it would been the first time that this would have been done in Belgium. The Federal Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden (Flemish Christian democrat) is now looking into whether a ship could be used as a prison for between 300 and 350 inmates.
Private companies have shown interest in the idea. A consortium including Belgian security firm Protection Unit has put itself forward to run the facility. Protection Unit’s Director, Steven Van Doorne says that a Dutch prison pontoon could be prepared by the summer.
However, Ms Verlinden says that no decision has yet been made. Furthermore, permits will be required as well as onshore security infrastructure such as fence. Staff facilities and a visitors’ car park will also be needed.
Another issue will be finding suitable staff. Security firms already have issues filling vacancies. Space for inmates to exercise will be required as will fire-safety. It is also possible that changes in the law with regard to private companies operating in prisons will also be required.
The Justice Minister said all options are being examined and nothing is being ruled out.
Electronic tagging
Meanwhile, the Flemish Justice Minister Zuhal Demir (nationalist) says that the Flemish authorities are willing to help tackle prison overcrowding by expanding the use of electronic tags for some offenders that have been given short sentences. However, she says she wants clarity on timing, funding and numbers.
Around 1,300 people that have been given a custodial sentence are currently on a waiting list for a prison place. The Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever (Flemish nationalist) has proposed wider use of electronic tags. Mr Verlinden has suggested reducing the length of sentences. Ms Demir says that tagging could form “part of the solution”, but stresses that serious offenders should not be tagged. She is also critical of the idea of reducing sentences, especially for those convicted of serious crimes.
Speaking on VRT Radio 1’s morning news and current affairs programme ‘De ochtend’, Ms Demir said that a pilot project that is currently running in Antwerp and West Flanders is being expanded. Under the scheme, some convicted young people are given an ankle bracelet instead of being sent to a secure young offenders’ centre. So far, 108 young offenders have taken part. This number is expected to rise to 300.