Prisons and Probation Minister Lucy Frazer has today (2 June 2020) set out how those services will start to recover from the restrictions imposed in response to coronavirus
In March, temporary restrictions were put in place to minimise movements between jails and reduce face-to-face probation meetings to avoid thousands of offenders and staff becoming infected with the virus.
Since then, strong further measures have been implemented, including the early release of low-risk offenders, temporary expansion of the prison estate, and work to reduce the number of those held on remand.
This action has helped to reduce the prison population, allowing jails to implement ‘compartmentalisation’, meaning staff have isolated those prisoners with symptoms, shielded the vulnerable and quarantined new arrivals.
As a result of the success of those measures, which have helped to contain the spread of the virus and limit deaths, consideration can now be given to how these restrictions can be cautiously.
Prisons and Probation Minister, Lucy Frazer QC MP, said:
Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service national frameworks can be read on GOV.UK: