Norwich's jail has become the first in the country to install new portable cells - which were lifted in over the prison wall.

The 'rapid deployment cells' have been brought in by the Minstry of Justice in an effort to cope with growing inmate numbers.

 

The Knox Road site has been fitted with the first 48 of the quick-build cells - with 1,000 due to be added to prisons across the country in the coming months.

The cells come equipped with a bed, a desk and a see-through television set - to prevent prisoners from hiding contraband items inside them.

Eastern Daily Press:

They are built off-site and then lifted over the prison wall by crane and dropped into place.

They were installed at the site ahead of a £38m renovation of prison's Elizabeth Fry wing, which dates back to Victorian times and will provide more than 170 new jail cells by 2025.

Eastern Daily Press:

Declan Moore, governor at HMP Norwich, said: "We need these rapid deployment cells because there has been a spike in the prison population.

"That spike needs to be addressed and we do that with a quick response."

The cells have a lifespan of 15 years and are also equipped with en-suite toilet and shower facilties.

Eastern Daily Press: Declan Moore, governor of HMP Norwich. Picture: Sarah Lucy BrownDeclan Moore, governor of HMP Norwich. Picture: Sarah Lucy Brown (Image: Archant)

Damian Hinds, minister for prisons and probation, said: "Prison cells protect the public by making sure we have enough space to put dangerous offenders behind bars - that is why we are investing £4bn to deliver 20,000 extra places.

"We are rolling out a thousand rapid deployment cells to create extra spaces quickly while we press ahead with the biggest expansion of our prisons in over a century.

"The first rapid cells at HMP Norwich are already boosting capacity while our multi-million-pound renovation of the Elizabeth Fry wing will create long-term places to protect the public."