Prison campaigners have called on the Government to reveal its plan to protect inmates from coronavirus.
Frances Cook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, raised concerns that “unhygienic” prisons could be a “centre” for spreading coronavirus into the wider population.
In a letter to Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, she said: “As businesses are taking action because of the infectious and potentially lethal nature of the coronavirus, I am surprised that there appears to have been no statement from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) as to the precautions being taken.
“I am concerned that prisons are unhygienic sites that could be a centre for spreading the virus into the community.
“Infectious diseases flourish in conditions of overcrowding, poor ventilation, filth and population with compromised health.
“It would take only one prisoner with the virus to infect many hundreds of people.
“Should anyone enter a prison already infected with coronavirus it would spread and multiply like wildfire inside the establishment and in the community.”
Ms Cook said many prisons were “filthy and disgustingly unhygienic” with soap “frequently impossible to obtain” for staff, inmates and visitors.
Earlier this week the Sunday Times reported the outbreak could see thousands of low-risk prisoners released early due to staff shortages in jails.
Mr Buckland has been advised on measures to free offenders serving short sentences for minor offences if the illness spreads and affects significant numbers of staff, according to the paper. The MoJ dismissed the reports as untrue.
A Prison Service spokesman insisted there were “robust contingency plans” in place, adding: “Hand washing facilities are available in all prisons and we have worked closely with suppliers to ensure adequate supply of soap and cleaning materials.
“We have the ability to deploy staff flexibly and will prioritise the safety of officers, prisoners and visitors while ensuring minimal possible disruption to normal regimes.”
