Prisons latest:
69 prisoners have tested positive for Covid-19 across 25 prisons, that’s 4 prisoners more than the day before. 14 prison staff from 8 jails have the virus, plus 4 prisoner escort staff. Ministry of Justice is tightening rules around the movement of prisoners..
69 prisoners have tested positive for Covid-19 across 25 prisons, that’s 4 prisoners more than the day before. 14 prison staff from 8 jails have the virus, plus 4 prisoner escort staff. Ministry of Justice is tightening rules around the movement of prisoners..
Jails in England/Wales have been ordered to establish “designated areas/units for the protection of specific cohorts in their population: 1) Newly Received prisoners, 2) Symptomatic Prisoners and 3) Prisoners deemed as Vulnerable to COVID-19”..
From yesterday, prisons were told to stop all transfers of inmates from one jail to another unless there are “exceptional” circumstances, to limit transmission of Covid-19.
Newly-arrived prisoners will, in effect, be quarantined for 14 days in areas known as “Reverse Cohort Unit” (who comes up with these names?!) with preferably, dedicated staff. Prisoners with symptoms of the virus will be held for 7 days in a “Protective Isolation Unit”...
..and those assessed as “vulnerable” who are susceptible to infection will be held for at least 12 weeks in a “Shielding Unit” in each prison. This is a major step for prisons and clearly they’re anticipating some resistance because guidance suggests force may have to be used..
“Using force...would only be justified if no other alternative (such as protective isolation in cell) were viable & the threat to the individuals life &/or to the safety of others was clearly & immediately compromised by a decision to allow them to protectively isolate in cell.”
