The Norwegian government is to
transfer 300 detainees to prisons in Holland pending work to
renovate or expand domestic jails, it emerged on Tuesday.
The move comes in response to an "urgent" situation of
overcrowding or poor conditions in Norwegian prisons.
"We inherited the problems of prison renovation and failed
expansion from the previous government because the reception
capacity has fallen over time," Justice Minister Anders Anundsen
said.
Under the agreement between Oslo and Amsterdam the
Norwegian prisoners transferred to Dutch jails will serve their
sentence in accordance with Norwegian detention standards, which
are considered more permissive.
Norwegian media report that some 1,300 convicts are
awaiting a definitive place in prison, while the work to expand
current capacity will cost 700 million euros.
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