In March the government introduced temporary restrictions in
prisons to prevent the virus taking hold – a decision that
has saved the lives of staff, prisoners and children in
custody, and protected the NHS.
These measures, backed by Public Health England, included:
- Putting in place an effective system in all prisons and
youth custody establishments to limit the spread of the
disease – meaning they now have distinct areas where
vulnerable prisoners can shield, the symptomatic can isolate,
and new arrivals can quarantine
- Creating an additional 1,200 temporary cells so people
are better able to social distance and we can limit the
spread of infection
- Making important adjustments to prison life – including
placing prisoners in social ‘bubbles’ so they could safely
spend more time out of their cells for vital education and
work, introducing video calls with family and friends, and
exercise.
In April, Public Health England endorsed this approach as
being effective in limiting the spread of the virus, and
ultimately in saving lives.
With new national restrictions in force, we are further
bolstering our defences to reduce the risk of transmission.
These actions include:
-
Introducing routine testing of frontline staff and
prisoners who arrive from court or transfer from other
jails to catch infections earlier, and hugely improve our
ability to identify, contain and limit outbreaks where
they occur.
- Making more Personal Protective Equipment available to
staff who come into close contact with offenders, so they can
protect themselves and the offenders in their care.
- Temporarily stopping social visits for adult prisoners in
England in line with the new national restrictions. However,
visits for compassionate reasons, visits to children in
custody and official or legal visits will continue.
Prisoners will still be able to see friends and family via
secure video calls, with this game-changing technology now in
place at over 100 jails. Staff are also helping offenders to
keep in touch through phone calls, with more than 1,200
mobile handsets distributed as well as extra phone credit.
Staff will continue to support prisoners with vital
rehabilitation work, such as access to education and exercise
as they have throughout the pandemic. Face-to-face education
for children in custody will also continue, as it will for
children around the country.
Prisons Minister, , said:
The decisive action and tough decisions we took in March
have undoubtedly limited the spread of the virus in our
prisons and saved lives.
This is in no small part due to the tireless work of our
dedicated officers working closely with outstanding NHS
staff and public health experts.
Now, as the government takes further action to control the
rapid spread of the virus, we too must take further steps
in prisons and temporarily suspend social visits.
Our priority is to limit the spread of the virus and to
protect the lives and wellbeing of those who live and work
in our prisons and in youth custody.
The significant challenge continues but we now have more
tools at our disposal – we have learned lessons and taken
every opportunity to refine our strategy -and will continue
to do so.
Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service national
frameworks can be read on GOV.UK:
