Britain splashes out £1.5million on prison vehicle fleet as it helps launch brand new jail... in Albania

Britain has splashed out £1.5million on a new electric prison vehicle fleet and has helped launch a state-of-the-art jail - in Albania. 

The move is part of a £4m prisoner transfer deal to return 200 of Albanias most dangerous inmates to the Balkan country, The Telegraph has reported. 

The UK is paying Albania to take back the criminals, who are currently housed in UK jails, as well as funding the refurbishment of its prisons and training of prison officers. 

The new fleet of electric vehicles will include 15 cars and 22 minibuses to be used in Albanias prison service.

British prison officers have also worked with their Albanian counterparts to develop the countrys first open jail.

Britain has splashed out £1.5million on a new electric prison vehicle fleet and has helped launch a state-of-the-art jail - in Albania (stock photo) 

The jail, called Ali Demi, is based in the capital Tirana and will house prisoners during the final six months of their sentences. 

Inmates will have their own rooms set in a terraced-style street with freedom to come and go.

The prison could be used by Albanian inmates transferred back to the country from the UK near to the end of their sentences. 

The cost of housing these criminals, which include murderers, rapists and drug dealers, in Albania will be £32-a-day compared to £109-a-day in the UK.    

There are currently 1,270 Albanians being held in the British prison system, which is the biggest number of any single nationality. 

Albanian nationals account for nearly one in seven of the 10,500 foreign inmates in UK jails, at a cost to the taxpayer of £52,000 per person. 

Director-general of the Albanian prison service, Klevis Qose, said: We are ready to populate the Ali Demi open prison, the newest prison in Albania.

The project, funded by the Albanian government and with the support of the British embassy in Tirana in increasing and strengthening the human resources capacities, is expected to prepare offenders to adapt as naturally as possible to civil life.

The jail, called Ali Demi, is based in the capital Tirana and will house prisoners during the final six months of their sentences (stock photo of Tirana) 

The move is the latest in the governments efforts to reduce overcrowding in UK jails.

Last month, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer launched an emergency early prisoner release scheme to free up space in UK jails.

More than 5,000 prisoners are to be set loose over the next six weeks, with everyone eligible for release apart from violent criminals jailed for more than four years.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the plans back in July, saying that overcrowding had pushed jails to the point of collapse.

Downing Street said the policy had to be brought in to avoid unchecked criminality where the police and courts are unable to lock anyone up.

The policy does not apply to those convicted of sex offences, terrorism, domestic abuse or some violent offences.

But campaigners and charities have warned that the scheme may come at the expense of women and childrens safety, while others raised concerns that it would push probation services to breaking point.