PLANS to re-allocate space at a young offender’s institution (YOI) to cater for up to 60 adult inmates have been announced by prison chiefs.

The Prison Service is configuring a wing at the YOI it runs in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, to house the category C and D prisoners – lower risk inmates.

Financial reasons and the falling numbers of young offenders being locked up have been cited as the reasons behind the move, which has been met with cautious optimism by union bosses.

It was revealed last year that Northallerton YOI was one of the most crowded in the country, with a total of 238 inmates on its books, despite having space for only 147 prisoners.

The report, published in August last year by the Prison Reform Trust, placed Northallerton YOI at 162 per cent of capacity.

Since then, the number of inmates at the YOI, in the town’s East Road, has dwindled, reflecting the national trend.

A Prison Service spokeswoman said: “We aim to get good value for money for the taxpayer by meeting prison capacity requirements more efficiently.

“The number of young offenders in custody is falling so it makes financial sense for us to re-allocate accommodation according to current requirements.

“We are currently in the process of reallocating an existing wing at YOI Northallerton to house up to 60 adult male prisoners – categories C and D.

“The prison will continue to house young offenders.”

The Prison Service has not said when the first adult offenders would be transferred to the prison.

Glyn Travis, of the Prison Officers’ Association, the trade union for prison, correctional and secure psychiatric workers, agreed that the move made financial sense.

He warned that allowing age groups to mix could have a negative impact on impressionable young offenders.

Mr Travis said: “There is also a danger that allowing the inmates to mix could see the younger ones become conditioned by the adults very quickly. If this goes ahead, we would like to see clear segregation between the young offenders and the adults.

“Anything else could be a recipe for disaster.”