The Bishop of Brighton and Arundel has welcomed a government decision to release pregnant women and new mothers from custody, in light of the risks posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Bishop Richard Moth, the English and Welsh Catholic Bishop Conference’s lead on prison issues, wrote to the Justice Secretary yesterday, 1 April, praising him for helping to “save lives”.
The UK government announced on Tuesday, March 31, that “low risk” pregnant prisoners, and mothers with very young children would be granted release on temporary licence on condition of passing a risk assessment and if suitable accommodation has been identified for them. The released inmates would have to wear an electronic “ankle tag”, and be required to stay at home.
Currently, there are 34 inmates in mother and baby units and 35 pregnant prisoners across 12 women prisons in England and Wales.
Urging the government to expand early release measures, he highlighted the risks posed by the coronavirus to elderly prisoners and those vulnerable to the virus for other reasons.
Earlier this week Bishop Moth called for the release of older or unwell prisoners, pregnant women and inmates who can be released temporarily without posing any risk to the wider public.
In response to cross-party calls for early release programmes, a spokesperson from the Department of Justice stated on April 1 that there are "no plans to end short-term prison sentences". The President of the Prison Governors Association, Andrea Albutt, warned that the virus is present in every prison in England and Wales, presenting a "huge risk" to inmates and staff.
At least 65 prisoners in 21 English and Welsh prisons have been diagnosed with the coronavirus so far, and at least three prisoners have died due to the illness, according to official figures. The prison population in England and Wales contains around 1,800 inmates aged 70 or over, a group considered to be at higher risk of developing life-threatening complications if infected.
In 2018, a report found that 15 per cent of prisoners suffered from respiratory illnesses, partly due to the poor state of repair of many prisons. 3,500 employees, one tenth of all prison service workers, are currently self-isolating, and twelve staff members have been diagnosed with coronavirus.
Prison overcrowding is seen by some commentators as exacerbating the health risks of a coronavirus outbreak given the limitations it places on effective self-isolation measures. Scotland has one of the highest rates of imprisonment in western Europe, and more than half of prisons and England and Wales are overcrowded.
The Pope has personally warned that overcrowded prisons could become the scene of “tragedy” in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
Loading ...
