Almost 1,000 prison officers go into self-isolation with cell searches and drug tests set to be scrapped to cope with absences in coronavirus crisis
- Some 900 prison officers were off work and self-isolating on Thursday
- Prisoners will be confined to their cells if jails in England and Wales lack staff
- Former chief prison inspector called for low-risk inmates to be released
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Almost 1,000 prison officers have gone into self-isolation and some security procedures may have to be halted if there are staff shortages amid the coronavirus outbreak, it is understood.
Prison cell searches and drug tests for inmates might be scrapped in a bid to cope with absences during the crisis.
Some 900 prison officers were off work and self-isolating on Thursday, the PA news agency understands.
Two inmates at HMP Kilmarnock in Scotland have tested positive for coronavirus, it was revealed on Thursday
‘Core security processes’ will ‘cease’ and prisoners will need to be confined to their cells if jails in England and Wales do not have enough staff, according to official guidance seen by BBC News.
Meals, medication, prisoner safety and family visits will be prioritised.
The number of prison officers off work rose on Friday, sources told the BBC.
The guidance is also said to advise against starting new offender behaviour programmes like those put in place for sex offenders.
The news comes after a former chief inspector of prisons called for low-risk inmates to be released from prison to avoid them becoming ‘incubators’ for coronavirus.
Speaking on the BBC’s Newsnight programme, Nick Hardwick suggested prisoners with only a short amount of their sentence left to serve could be freed to help ease the pressure on the prison system.
Prisons minister Lucy Frazer said prison staff were working closely with the Department of Health and the NHS to ‘manage challenges’
On Wednesday, the first case of an inmate being infected with Covid-19 was confirmed at HMP Manchester.
Two inmates at HMP Kilmarnock in Scotland have also tested positive for the virus, it was revealed on Thursday.
Last week the Government said it was ‘striving tirelessly’ to ensure the safety of prisons amid the coronavirus outbreak after campaigners urged officials to reveal how they would protect inmates.
Prisons minister Lucy Frazer said prison staff were working closely with the Department of Health and the NHS to ‘manage challenges’ and urged anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 to avoid visiting a relative behind bars.
