The floating prison HMP Weare, moored in Portland Harbour near Weymouth, was opened after a £8.5 refurbishment.
The ship will accommodate 400 low-risk Category C inmates and includes an exercise yard and gymnasium.
Richard Tilt, director-general of the prison service admitted that the ship was not ideal as a prison but said that prison officials were actively looking for new sites to convert to jails, including redundant military bases and psychiatric hospitals.
- The Times 23/07/97 page 6, page 18 (Debriefed)
- The Independent 23/07/97 page 4
- The Guardian 23/07/97 page 7
