- Recently closed youth custody site in Kent reopened to
hold up to 70 adult prisoners
- Over 300 temporary cells now delivered to nine prisons
- Extra capacity is reducing risk of outbreak in prisons,
helping to protect local hospitals
This follows the installation of the first of 500 temporary,
single occupancy cells which began three weeks ago. Over 300
have now been delivered to nine prisons.
Across the estate, prisons are moving towards single-cell
accommodation, as much as possible, to limit the spread of
infection and the number of deaths. The strong measures the
Prison Service is taking - creating extra cells, limiting
prisoner movement, releasing some prisoners early, isolating
those with symptoms and quarantining new arrivals - are
successfully limiting the transmission of the virus.
The latest modelling by Public Health England and HM Prison
and Probation Service predicts a drastic reduction in the
spread rates of the infection, with each case being passed on
to less than one person – meaning lives should be saved and
the NHS is being protected from the impact of widespread
local outbreaks.
The former Medway Secure Training Centre, which closed in
March, will be temporarily reopened as an annex to nearby HMP
Rochester, housing up to 70 category D adult prisoners. It
will be staffed by existing prison staff from local prisons
in Kent.
Temporary cells have now been installed to serve HMPs
Highpoint, Hollesley Bay and North Sea Camp. Installation
continues at HMPs Askham Grange, Coldingley, Hatfield,
Lindholme, Littlehey, Moorland and Wymott with plans to
deliver to further prisons across the estate as required.
