• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Inside the world's smallest prison located in the UK

Home> News> UK News

Published 16:13 24 May 2024 GMT+1

Inside the world's smallest prison located in the UK

The teeny jail holds just two inmates

Lucy Devine

Lucy Devine

Did you know that the world's smallest prison is actually located here in the UK?

The teeny tiny building can only hold two prisoners, but remarkably it's still a working jail.

Sark Prison, located on the island of Sark on the Channel Islands, was built in 1856.

Advert

The island itself is super small - just 2.1 square miles with a population of 562 people (which is the equivalent of a village).

It's a pretty breathtaking island, filled with greenery and plenty of coastal views.

Located between England and France, Sark is often referred to as the jewel of the Channel Islands.

Despite being so small, the prison is technically still in use. Of course, it's changed a little today and now has electricity and heating.

The jail was built in 1856. (Felix Man/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The jail was built in 1856. (Felix Man/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Advert

It consists of two jails with a small corridor between them. Both jail cells have small, wood slatted beds with thin mattresses for inmates to sleep on.

The maximum jail time in the prison was two to three days, before the offenders were transferred over the Guernsey.

"The original Sark Prison stood near to where St Peter's Church is today. Over time it became dilapidated and by 1832 the Arsenal was being used as an interim prison, despite being entirely unfit for purpose," the Sark website explains.

"The little barrel-roofed two-celled prison we know today was eventually built in 1856 and is one of the world’s smallest prisons still in use.

It can hold two prisoners. (Getty Stock Photo)
It can hold two prisoners. (Getty Stock Photo)

Advert

"Judicial powers granted to Sark in 1583 allow a prisoner to be held for a maximum of two days. If the crime is severe enough to warrant further punishment the offender will be sent to Guernsey prison."

It's hard to imagine there would be much crime at all on an island like Sark.

However, a police officer who left the island in 2019 has claimed otherwise.

In a report to the island’s parliament - as per the Guardian - PC Mike Fawson said: “Sark in the past (and current) has been awash with people who have various criminal convictions, which in many cases we have no knowledge of until another offence is committed.

Sark is considered the jewel of the Channel Islands. (Getty Stock Photo)
Sark is considered the jewel of the Channel Islands. (Getty Stock Photo)

Advert

“There are many incidents that we cannot lawfully do anything about as we do not have the appropriate tools and laws at our disposal to deal with them, such as speeding, intoxicated driving.

"All Sark special constables and custody officers should be fully trained with and equipped with batons and Pava spray for self-protection and protection of the general public.

“In many cases when an unlawful incident occurs, the Sark police constables are met with a wall of silence and an unwillingness of people to make an official complaint that would enable someone being brought to account for their actions.”

Featured Image Credit: Chris2766/Getty

Topics: UK News, Crime

Lucy Devine
Lucy Devine

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

11 hours ago
12 hours ago
  • 11 hours ago

    British tourist left fighting for her life after catching deadly lung disease on all-inclusive holiday

    Donna Jobling was placed in a medically induced coma 11 days ago after her holiday to Crete took a tragic turn

    News
  • 11 hours ago

    Satellite images show impact site of US bombs on Iranian nuclear facilities

    New satellite snaps have revealed the extent of damage done by the US on Iran's military base

    News
  • 12 hours ago

    Man posed as a flight attendant for over 100 free flights in case compared to Catch Me If You Can

    Tiron Alexander was found guilty of wire fraud and unlawfully entering a secure airport area under false pretences earlier this month

    News
  • 12 hours ago

    Government issues serious sexual health warning for Mounjaro users as weight loss drug set to be available on NHS

    The advice from officials is for a specific group of people

    News
  • Inhumane rules inside 'world's worst prison' as first prisoners from America arrive after Trump 'defies judge'
  • Video shows solitary confinement cell inside 'world's worst prison' where inmates aren't told when they'll be released
  • Man goes inside 'worst of the worst' prison and was left in shock at what he initially saw
  • First immigrants from America arrive in 'world's worst prison' after Trump 'defies judge's ruling'