A former Secure Training Centre in Kent is reopening today to house its first adult inmates as part of urgent efforts to increase prison capacity and protect both the public and the NHS from the impact of coronavirus.
Since installation began three weeks ago, over 300 temporary single-occupancy cells have been delivered across nine prisons in England. The Prison Service is prioritising single-cell accommodations wherever possible to help curb the spread of infection and reduce fatalities within the prison system.
Strict measures have been implemented to control the virus, including the introduction of new cells, restricted prisoner movement, early releases, isolating inmates showing symptoms, and quarantining new arrivals. These steps have significantly slowed Covid transmission behind bars.
Officials confirmed, “Latest Public Health England and HM Prison modelling shows each infected inmate now spreads the virus to fewer than one other, cutting outbreak risk and saving lives.”
The former Medway Secure Training Centre, which has been closed since March, will temporarily reopen as a wing of the nearby HMP Rochester. It will accommodate up to 70 low-risk category D adult prisoners and will be staffed by existing Kent prison officers.
New single cells are now in use at HMPs Highpoint, Hollesley Bay, and North Sea Camp. Installation work continues at HMPs Askham Grange, Coldingley, Hatfield, Lindholme, Littlehey, Moorland, and Wymott, with further rollouts planned as needed to strengthen the prison estate.
Originally published by UKNIP.
