British prisons could be forced to release low-category prisoners to control coronavirus spread says prison officers’ union chief as inmates with symptoms are isolated
- Steve Gillan said staff need more resources in prisons up and down the country
- Claimed there were 75 prisoners in self isolation as well as 100 staff members
- Said prisoners need to be properly educated on the virus and reassured
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Prisons across the UK could be forced to release low-category inmates to control the spread of coronavirus across the British justice system.
General Secretary of the Prison Officers Association Steve Gillan this morning said that some prisoners across sites in the UK have already been forced to self-isolate within the prisons due to the virus.
So far in the UK there have been over 1,000 confirmed cases of the disease and 21 people have died and Mr Gillan said he wasn’t aware of any prisoners across the system having tested positive but said that 75 were in isolation along with over 100 staff members.
Speaking on Sophie Ridge on Sunday this morning, Mr Gillan was asked if the UK would introduce measures similar to that of places such as Iran, where the decision was made to release a small amount of prisoners.
The UK’s death rate doubled overnight as a further ten patients died from the coronavirus. The total number of cases in the UK leapt from 820 this morning to 1,140 on Saturday
‘Not as yet, but previous governments have done executive release and it could come in the future to free up spaces, looking specifically at low risk category prisoners.
‘For example, in category D there are about 4,000 prisoners, some are being isolated who have shown signs of the virus, no one to my knowledge has tested positive but they have been isolated in single cell.
‘Staff as well, prison officers are sometimes not recognised for the valuable work we do, and this is a great opportunity to recognise how brave they are’.
He claimed he had also written to MP Robert Buckland offering him a round table meeting to discuss various options for the prison service, but said that he had not yet received a response.
Mr Gillan (pictured above) said more needed to be done to keep prisoners safe
Mr Gillan said discussions had not yet taken place as to whether or not other buildings may be used to house prisoners outside of the current facilities provided by the government.
It comes after 12 prisoners were left dead in jails across the country as violence and riots erupted.
16 prisoners also escaped while others also overdosed on drugs.
Mr Gillan added: ‘We don’t want a situation like Italy and communication with those in our care is paramount and we need to make sure everyone is safe.
Mr Gillan claimed that 75 prisoners were self isolating and that 113 staff members were also in self isolation
‘In the past when the prison service was overcrowded we had to get prison ships. The welfare of those in our care is paramount, we can’t send prisoners home to self isolate.’
He added that there was ‘no doubt in his mind’ that the service needed more investment from the government.
‘I don’t want to make political points out of it but we are under re-sourced. In total 113 staff nationally and 75 prisoners are in isolation.’
Asked how prisoners with mental health issues would be assisted during this time he said there was also an increase in prisoners over 70 having mental health conditions.
‘Of course no one wants to see disturbances like in Italy but that’s why communication, proper screening and education is paramount.
‘Things will get bad – but we need to prepare prisoners’.