Isle of Man Prison Portacabins

Summary

A request for details on portacabins used as temporary prisoner accommodation at Isle of Man Prison was partially fulfilled, disclosing the number of units and estimated costs while exempting specific staffing figures.

Key Facts

• The Isle of Man Prison is using 24 single occupancy portacabins for temporary accommodation.
• The total estimated cost for installation, transportation, and 12 months of hire is £200,000.
• Precise final costs for obtaining and running the cabins were not held at the time of the request.
• Staffing numbers assigned to the portacabins were withheld to prevent prejudice to prison security.
• The need for the cabins is to increase prison capacity due to a rising prisoner population.

Data Disclosed

• 24
• £200,000
• 12 months
• 2024-07-01
• 2024-08-05
• 3951381

Exemptions Cited

• Section 32(1)(f) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (prejudice to security and good order in institutions)
• Information already in the public domain (absolute exemption)

Original Request

How many portacabins is the Isle of Man Prison using as temporary accommodation for prisoners? What was the cost of obtaining the portacabins? What is the cost of running the portacabins? How many staff are assigned the portacabins? What is the need for them?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Coordinator DHA Headquarters Tromode Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 5AP

Telephone: (01624) 687017 Web address: www.gov.im/dha
Email: DPO-DHA@dha.gov.im

Our ref: 3951381 5 August 2024

Dear ###

We write further to your request to the Department of Home Affairs (“DHA”), received 1 July 2024, which states:

"[1] How many portacabins is the Isle of Man Prison using as temporary accommodation for prisoners?

[2] What was the cost of obtaining the portacabins?

[3] What is the cost of running the portacabins?

[4] How many staff are assigned the portacabins?

[5] What is the need for them?"

Question numbers have been added to the wording of your request for ease of reference.

Our response (to the extent that information is held or not exempt) to each of your questions is as follows:

[1] How many portacabins is the Isle of Man Prison using as temporary accommodation for prisoners?

Response (held): 24 single occupancy cabins (“Cabins”).

[2] What was the cost of obtaining the portacabins? [3] What is the cost of running the portacabins?

Response (to [2] and [3]) (some not held): The total overall estimated cost upon installation is £200,000 which includes transportation, installation and hire costs for an initial period of 12 months. The final, precise costs attributable to the cost of obtaining and running the Cabins are not held as at the date of your request, the above estimate has been provided in line with the public authority’s duty to advise and assist requestors under Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (the “Act”).

[4] How many staff are assigned the portacabins?

Response (exempt): While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the information is exempt under section 32(1)(f) of the Act as disclosure of this information would be likely to prejudice the maintenance of security and good order in institutions (within the meaning of the Custody Act 1995) where persons are lawfully detained.

The DHA considers it appropriate to maintain a degree of confidentiality in respect of the internal management practices of the Isle of Man Prison (“Prison”) which applies to staffing levels, to avoid prejudicing the interest protected by section 32(1)(f) of the Act.
As Section 32(1)(f) is a qualified exemption, it is subject to a public interest test. The public interest must be something that is of serious concern and benefit to the public at large. The DHA has concluded that the factors in favour of maintaining the exemption (preserving general confidentiality in respect of the particulars of staffing levels of a particular area of the Prison), together with other factors, outweigh the argument in favour of disclosure (transparency regarding staffing levels).
In taking these factors into account the DHA has determined that the factors in favour of maintaining the exemption outweigh the factors in favour of disclosing the information. Additional information: The DHA would like to assure the requester and the general public that the Cabins are staffed to safe and appropriate levels to ensure the maintenance of security and good order at the Prison. The Cabins are located in a secure compound within the Prison grounds.

[5] What is the need for them?"

Please note that the DHA considers this information to have been a matter of public knowledge prior to the date of your request (accordingly, this would be absolutely exempt information accessible to you by other means). However, in line with the DHA’s duty to advise and assist under Section 15 of the Act, the DHA confirms that the need for the Cabins is to increase capacity at the Prison due to an increasing Prison population.

Please quote the reference number 3951381 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are

dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.