The UK Prison Service is considering plans to double the number of prisoners in temporary, prefabricated cells designed for a single person, according to leaked documents. These cells, known as Rapid Deployment Cells (RDCs), were originally introduced as a short-term solution to overcrowding in England and Wales. They are small, steel-framed pods, often no larger than 2.9 meters by 3.4 meters, equipped with a bed, toilet, and shower. These units are typically used for low-risk prisoners and are sometimes offered as a reward for good behavior. The plan, requested by the Ministry of Justice, would involve installing second beds in these temporary cells at 10 category C prisons, potentially increasing the total prison capacity by 476. The leaked documents reveal that the Ministry of Justice is under pressure to find more prison space due to rising numbers of inmates. A senior Prison Service executive wrote to governors on 27 August, urging them to quickly assess the feasibility of doubling up in RDCs. This came just days before the government announced a tightening of early release schemes, which would block hundreds of violent offenders from being released early. The executive emphasized the need to "identify all potential capacity quickly" due to a shortage of new prison facilities. The proposed changes would affect several prisons, including Wayland in Norfolk, Littlehey in Cambridgeshire, Erlestoke in Wiltshire, and Rochester in Kent, among others. However, prison officials have raised concerns that the move could breach health and safety standards and put prisoners, staff, and the public at risk. The plans could push the number of prisoners above the government’s own safety limits, which state that the prison system should not hold more than 81,616 people—far below the current population of 87,111. Prison officers and governors have criticized the proposal, warning that overcrowding could lead to instability and unsafe conditions. Mark Fairhurst of the Prison Officers Association said his members might walk out if asked to manage overcrowded facilities, despite legal restrictions on striking. Tom Wheatley of the Prison Governors Association stressed that a full risk assessment would be needed before any changes, as RDCs are among the least secure parts of the prison estate. Andrea Coomber of the Howard League for Penal Reform called the plan a sign of desperation, noting that RDCs were intended as a temporary fix but have become a relatively stable part of the prison system. The Ministry of Justice has stated that it is investing £4.7 billion to create 14,000 new prison places and emphasized that any doubling up would only occur where it is safe to do so.