The Liberal Democrats are backing calls by prison governors
to reduce overcrowding to slow the spread of coronavirus in
prisons, following confirmation today of the first prisoner to
die after contracting the virus.
Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson called on the Government
to “urgently end overcrowding in prisons, including releasing
prisoners serving short sentences and suspending any new short
sentences.”
This echoes a warning yesterday from the Prison Governors
Association, whose President Andrea Albutt told the
Guardian: “If we have less prisoners doubled [up in cells],
it will be easier to isolate those who’ve been confirmed as
having the virus or have the symptoms, so we can delay the
spread.”
Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson said:
“Already one prisoner has sadly died after contracting
coronavirus. The Government must act quickly to prevent prisons
becoming a crucible for the virus.
“We need to protect prison staff, prisoners and our communities
from this pandemic. But there is no chance of social distancing
in prisons while they are so overcrowded, with many prisoners
sharing cells built for one person.
“The Government must listen to prison governors and urgently end
overcrowding in prisons. It should release prisoners serving
short sentences and suspend any new short sentences.
“With tough licence conditions and electronic tagging, we can
keep our communities safe from crime while also slowing the
spread of coronavirus.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Guardian: ‘Release
inmates or face jail pandemic, say prison governors’
BBC: ‘First UK
prison Covid-19 death confirmed’
