Thread by @C4CrimAppeals

Why is prison health a public health issue?

What should @MoJGovUK @lucyfrazermp do about the spread of #COVID19 our prisons?

And why should we release some prisoners?

Thread below 👇

Like cruise ships and care homes, prisons are high-risk environments for the rapid spread of #COVID19

@GOVUK has a duty of care to its prison population, which includes the right to equal standards health care

@GOVUK is also "proud to be party to" the @UN 'Nelson Mandela Rules' for the Treatment of Prisoners (as they reiterated in 2019)

@UN 'Nelson Mandela Rules' provide for the same standards of health care in prisons as in the community, including "prompt access to medical attention in urgent cases" and transfer to outside hospitals

So we know that @GOVUK has a duty of care for the health of its prisoners, but what does that mean for #COVID19?

The most recent @HMIPrisonsnews inquiry into prison healthcare found @GOVUK was "failing in its duty of care" with unsafe, unsanitary and outdated living conditions

If even 1 prisoner develops #COVID19 it will spread much quicker than in the outside world

Prisons are fertile ground for a highly infectious virus and have very few places in segregation units to isolate those who show symptoms

Urgent measures must be taken by @MoJGovUK @lucyfrazermp to mitigate the risks of #COVID19 rapidly spreading through our prisons and crippling local hospitals

These include temporary/early release of a controlled group of the prison population and effective testing

Experts like @richardjcoker have warned of the consequences of not acting quickly to prevent an outbreak of #COVID19 in prisons and detention centres, which could cause huge strain to local hospitals, when @NHSuk is already under immense pressure

If @MoJGovUK @lucyfrazermp do not act urgently to prevent an outbreak of #COVID19 one consequence will be an increased use of lockdown in prisons due to staff shortages, and reduced prisoner contact with the outside world

Restrictions on prisoner communication with the outside world - children, parents, partners, siblings - will have profound impacts on mental health

Similar restrictions led to prison rioting and fatalities in Italy - we must learn from their mistakes

But why would releasing prisoners help the general public?

Ironically, NOT releasing some prisoners could be a greater risk to public safety than releasing them

Reducing the prison population minimises the spread of #COVID19 in prisons, the community, and the strain on @NHSuk

Research sources: @PRTuk @ONS @richardjcoker @WHO @UN @HMIPrisonsnews @DetentionAction

Possibly of interest: @BarristerSecret @nicklhardwick2 @francescrook @TheHowardLeague @Barristerblog @WIP_live @reformthinktank @DetentionAction @MarshallProj @innocence @PenelopeGibbs2 @prisonadvice @PrisonersAdvice @EdwinaGrosvenor @PrisonersEd @JusticeGap @neill_bob