The Ministry of Justice is facing a financial catastrophe exceeding £100 million after being forced to close a historic prison due to dangerous levels of radioactive gas, with critics now calling on the royal family to intervene.
A 'Catastrophic' Lease for a Toxic Site
Dartmoor Prison in Princetown, Devon, was permanently closed in 2024 after tests revealed dangerously high concentrations of radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas linked to lung cancer. Despite this known health risk to both inmates and staff, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) continued its lease on the site from the Duchy of Cornwall, the private estate of the Prince of Wales.
The Commons Public Accounts Committee has slammed this decision as "catastrophic," highlighting a colossal waste of public funds for a facility that is now unusable and unsafe. The MoJ remains locked into a decade-long lease agreement, with the total cost expected to soar well over £100 million.
Pressure Mounts on Prince William's Duchy
While the MoJ bears the brunt of the criticism, significant scrutiny is now falling on the landlord—the Duchy of Cornwall. The estate, which provides a private income for Prince William, continues to receive rent from the public purse for the derelict prison site.
In letters to The Guardian, commentators Les Bright from Exeter and Giselle Dye from Edinburgh challenged the Duchy's stance. They argue the royal estate has a moral duty to act in the public interest and release the MoJ from the ruinous lease. Bright suggested Prince William could redirect the rent to bail out the financially struggling Dartmoor National Park Authority, which recently closed its nearby visitor centre.
Giselle Dye framed the cost in stark terms, noting that the £100 million could fund salaries for approximately 2,500 nurses or nearly 3,000 new teachers in the UK for a full year.
Broken Prison, Broken Community
The fallout from the prison's closure extends beyond Whitehall balance sheets. The shutdown has delivered a severe blow to the local community in Princetown. Just half a mile from the prison gates, the Dartmoor National Park visitor centre was forced to close its doors two months ago due to the park authority's own financial pressures.
This double closure has created a significant gap in local infrastructure and economy, amplifying calls for a compassionate and pragmatic solution that addresses both the financial scandal and its community impact.
The central question now is whether the Duchy of Cornwall will be prevailed upon by Parliament, the Treasury, or Prince William himself to terminate the lease, transforming a story of catastrophic failure into one of responsible public service.
