New island jail officially opened

The prison is staging a series of public open days

The opening of the Isle of Man's new multi-million pound prison has been hailed as the "dawning of a new era" by Home Affairs Minister Martin Quayle.

Speaking during the official opening, Mr Quayle said the island should be proud of the Jurby facility, which cost �41.7m to build.

It replaces the old prison on Victoria Road, Douglas, which was built in 1891 and is now considered too small.

Prisoners are to be transferred from the old jail later in the year.

The Department of Home Affairs said it would be the first time the island's entire prison population had been moved since 1891, when inmates were moved from Castle Rushen to Douglas.

Better facilities

Before the move, 2,400 people who live on the island are set to tour the new premises during a series of open days.

Mr Quayle said he hoped they would feel proud of a facility, built mainly with local expertise, that "equals the standard of any modern prison".

About 130 people will be employed at the jail, which has been designed to provide improved education, health and behavioural facilities.

Its 138 cells are protected by more than 850 locks, 168 cameras and more than 1,000 tonnes of steel.

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