Canterbury Prison holds only foreign national inmates awaiting deportation.

EXCLUSIVE by Adam Williams

Thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money has been spent on converting toilets and showers at Canterbury Prison.

Facilities at the prison, which only holds foreign nationals awaiting deportation, have been specially adapted to cater for its inmates, at a cost of £17,000.

The Gazette asked the Ministry of Justice, under the Freedom of Information Act, what provisions have been made to cater for its Muslim population of 92.

Included was the installation of two footbaths, a “squat” toilet and a shower area to meet the requirements of a dedicated foreign national establishment. But, the area is not exclusive to Muslims and can be used by all inmates.

The public expense has been slammed by pressure group the TaxPayers’ Alliance. Chief executive Matthew Elliott feels the money makes a mockery of the justice system.

He said: “It’s ridiculous that we are spending so much money on prisoners who should have been deported, rather than kept here as a burden on innocent taxpayers.

“Making basic provision for people’s needs is one thing, but there is no reason at all why there should be special toilets installed.”

He added: “If prison doesn’t have the perfect toilet facilities for you, then you shouldn’t have committed a crime, it isn’t meant to be nice.”

Canterbury Prison is the first in the country to fulfil the unique roll of holding only foreign national prisoners. The Prison Independent Monitoring Board’s annual report published in July, showed inmates represent 66 different nationalities, speak 33 different languages and practice 17 different religions.

Representative Amy Bushell defended the bill for “squat” toilets.

She said: “In the prison’s overall refurbishment programme budget, the cost of the installation was relatively small.

“People who chose to use such facilities cover many nationalities, cultures and religions. We would’ve been greatly disturbed if these had been provided for just one group alone, as it would have excluded other individuals from using them.”

The board also stressed no complaints have been received of non-Muslims being denied access to the area.

Read more on this story in this week's Kentish Gazette.