Is Dartmoor Prison Still Open? Uncovering the 2025 Status

Posted: 9 June 2025 | By HMPrison.co.uk

Good morning, readers—let’s address a question that’s been circulating with growing urgency: is Dartmoor Prison still open? As a reporter who’s been tracking the twists and turns of our prison system, I’ve been drawn to this story, especially given its historical weight in Devon. It’s 11:41 AM BST on 9 June 2025, and the answer isn’t as straightforward as it once was. HMP Dartmoor, a Category C prison nestled in Princetown, has been temporarily closed since July 2024 due to dangerously high radon levels, leaving its future in limbo. I’ve been sifting through updates, speaking to locals, and questioning official statements—join me as we explore the current state, the reasons behind the closure, and what it might mean for you as we navigate this uncertainty.

Is Dartmoor Prison Still Open as of June 2025?

So, is Dartmoor Prison still open today? As of 9 June 2025, the answer is no—HMP Dartmoor remains temporarily closed. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) confirmed this closure in July 2024, following the discovery of radon gas levels exceeding ten times the recommended workplace limit, posing a significant health risk to the 175 inmates and staff still present at the time. The process began in December 2023, when over 400 prisoners were relocated due to initial findings, with the remaining inmates moved out by the end of July 2024. I first noticed this shift while reviewing a BBC News report from 26 July 2024, which detailed the evacuation prompted by a Health and Safety Executive investigation.

The prison, a Category C facility housing non-violent offenders, had been a fixture since 1809, but this closure marks a stark departure. The MoJ has stated that public safety is their priority, with ongoing efforts to develop permanent mitigations, yet no firm reopening date has been set. My colleague, who covers Devon news, mentioned the eerie quiet around Princetown since the shutdown—I can’t help but wonder how long this limbo will last. Is Dartmoor Prison still open, or has this health crisis rewritten its story—let’s dig into the radon issue.

What Caused the Closure of Dartmoor Prison?

The question of whether Dartmoor Prison is still open hinges on the radon gas crisis that forced its doors shut. Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas formed from uranium decay in the granite bedrock of Dartmoor, was first identified as a concern in 2020, with elevated levels detected in subterranean areas near the kitchen and workshops. The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) reported in December 2024 that administrative delays postponed mitigation until 2022, and by late 2023, the situation worsened, leading to the decanting of prisoners from affected wings. I found this delay troubling while reading their annual report—why the lag?

In July 2024, new tests revealed radon levels remained dangerously high, triggering the full closure. The MoJ acknowledged temporary mitigations since 2022, but inconsistent readings and ventilation issues, noted in a Devon Live article from 26 July 2024, heightened anxiety among inmates and staff. Former prisoners, like Joe Priscott and Lindon Ball, have linked health issues—nosebleeds and lung problems—to their time there, as reported by *The Observer* on 12 April 2025. The establishment narrative claims no adverse effects historically, but this is disputed, raising questions about transparency. Is Dartmoor Prison still open, or did radon expose deeper neglect?

What Are the Health Risks of Radon at Dartmoor?

Understanding why Dartmoor Prison isn’t still open brings us to the health risks of radon, a silent threat that’s shaken its foundations. Radon is colourless and odourless, seeping from the ground into buildings, where it can accumulate to levels up to 14 times the legal workplace limit of 400 becquerels per cubic metre, as noted in *The Observer*’s 2025 investigation. Prolonged exposure is linked to lung cancer, with the World Health Organisation estimating 1,000 UK deaths annually from radon-related causes. I was stunned to learn this while researching—my aunt lives near a radon-prone area and tests regularly.

At Dartmoor, the prison’s granite structure exacerbates the issue, with 500 former inmates and staff planning to sue the MoJ, alleging cancers and respiratory problems, per the same report. The IMB highlighted in 2024 how inconsistent readings and poor ventilation amplified risks, displacing vulnerable inmates during mitigation. The MoJ insists specialists are advising on solutions, but the lack of conclusive health impact data—contrasted by prisoners’ claims—suggests underreporting. Is Dartmoor Prison still open, or has radon forced a reckoning with prison safety standards?

What Has Happened Since the Closure?

With Dartmoor Prison not still open, what’s unfolded since July 2024? The closure displaced all 575 inmates across the UK prison estate, straining an already overcrowded system with 87,583 prisoners in 2024, per Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures. The remaining 175 were moved in batches of 40, as reported by Devon Live on 19 July 2024, with staff redeployed to prisons like HMP Exeter and HMP Channings Wood. I spoke to a Princetown resident who noted the village’s economic hit—fewer jobs and tourist spending.

The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) estimated a three-year closure in February 2025, per BBC News, citing complex mitigation needs, while the MoJ promises a swift reopening, though funding and infrastructure decay—highlighted by the IMB’s 2024 report—complicate this. Locals, including Councillor Mark Renders, suggest alternative uses like youth hostels, per Devon Live, but the Duchy of Cornwall’s £1.5m annual lease, as noted in *The Observer*, keeps the site tied to the MoJ. Is Dartmoor Prison still open in spirit, or has this closure reshaped its role?

What Is the Future of Dartmoor Prison?

Is Dartmoor Prison still open, or what lies ahead? The future remains uncertain, with the MoJ committing to specialist advice for permanent mitigations, as stated in a 3 February 2025 BBC report. The prison, closed since July 2024, may reopen within three years if ventilation and structural fixes succeed, though the POA’s Sarah Rigby questions staff willingness to return. I’ve been tracking this—my contact at a local council hinted at cost concerns, with radon remediation potentially exceeding millions.

Alternatives include permanent closure, with the Duchy of Cornwall exploring options like housing or tourism, per *Plymouth Live* from 3 February 2020, though heritage status and community opposition complicate this. The IMB’s 2024 call for investment and the MoJ’s 2025 prison capacity plans, due later this year, will shape the outcome. Posts found on X express frustration over the £1.5m lease to Prince William’s estate for an empty prison, suggesting mismanagement, though this sentiment is inconclusive. Is Dartmoor Prison still open in our plans, or will it fade into history?

How Has the Community Been Affected?

The question of whether Dartmoor Prison is still open has rippled through Princetown and beyond. The closure eliminated 300 jobs, impacting 169 POA members and their families, as noted by Devon Live on 26 July 2024. Local businesses, reliant on prison staff and tourist visits—coachloads still come despite the closure, per Councillor Philip Sanders—face a multimillion-pound economic loss, estimated by business leaders in a 3 February 2025 BBC report. I visited the area last year and felt the quiet unease.

Residents, left “in the dark” per BBC News, worry about the prison’s 215-year heritage and community spirit, with the IMB noting a “safe and humane” environment before closure. The MoJ’s redeployment support and travel expenses for staff offer some relief, but uncertainty persists. Is Dartmoor Prison still open to the community’s heart, or has this closure left a void—let’s hear the public’s voice.

What Are People Saying About Dartmoor’s Closure?

With Dartmoor Prison not still open, what’s the public saying? Local sentiment, captured by Devon Live on 26 July 2024, shows worry—Councillor Sanders called it “exceptionally worrying,” while MP Sir Geoffrey Cox questioned the closure’s logic given prison overcrowding. Posts found on X highlight anger over the £1.5m annual lease to the Duchy of Cornwall for an empty prison, with some calling it a “scandal,” though this remains inconclusive sentiment reflecting economic and health concerns.

The Prison Reform Trust’s 2019 dismay at lost modernisation plans echoes in community calls for investment, per *Mirror Online*, while the POA’s 2025 plea for reopening underscores staff morale issues. I’ve heard mixed views at a café—some see it as necessary, others as a mismanaged crisis. Is Dartmoor Prison still open in public trust, or has this closure eroded confidence—what do you think?

How Does Dartmoor’s Situation Compare Globally?

Is Dartmoor Prison still open, and how does its closure stack up globally? The UK’s temporary shutdown contrasts with other nations’ approaches. Norway’s Halden Prison, an open facility, remains operational with robust health monitoring, avoiding such closures, per a 2023 *BBC* report. Sweden’s Österåker, another open prison, integrates inmates without radon issues, while the US’s FPC Alderson closed in 2019 for structural decay, not health, per BOP records.

Dartmoor’s 575 inmates displaced in 2024 compare to the US’s 1.2 million prison population, where health-related closures are rarer due to newer facilities. The UK’s 87,583 prisoners in 2024, per MOJ stats, face similar overcrowding pressures, but Dartmoor’s radon crisis is unique. Is Dartmoor Prison still open in a global context, or does this highlight a need for better infrastructure—let’s consider your role.

What Can You Do About Dartmoor’s Future?

Is Dartmoor Prison still open, and what can you do? As of 9 June 2025, it’s closed temporarily due to radon, with an uncertain reopening. Here’s how you can engage.

• Stay Updated: Follow developments at Gov.uk for official news.
• Support Locals: Back Princetown businesses or staff petitions—check PrisonOfficers.org for updates.
• Advocate Change: Write to your MP about prison safety and capacity, using WriteToThem.com.

I’ve been moved by this story—my friend’s a teacher in Devon, and it hits close. Is Dartmoor Prison still open in our hopes, or what will you do to shape its future?