Call for Thames prison ships

The new Metropolitan Police Commissioner revealed today he is considering using prison ships to reduce overcrowding in jails.

Sir Ian Blair said officers were letting some offenders off with a caution because there were not enough cells.

"The prison ship would be an option in the short term. The best bit is that you wouldn't need planning permission. You could just keep moving it around the Thames. But I am not sure I would be able to get away with that," he told The Sun.

Downing Street is reportedly prepared to give its backing to the plan as a temporary solution.

Sir Ian said the long-term answer was to build cell complexes on industrial estates in the capital "where there won't be complaints from residents about the noise of doors slamming at night."

His predecessor Lord Stevens revealed last year he had wanted to buy HMP Weare, moored in Portland Harbour, Dorset, as Britain's first prison ship.