Leeds prison fifth worst for overcrowding as campaigners warn of disease risk

The early release of elderly, sick and vulnerable prisoners, where safe, is just one of a host of suggested measures put forward by the Howard League for Penal Reform in a letter to Justice Secretary Robert Buckland.

Chief Executive Frances Crook said: “This is important for staff at a time when many prisons are grossly crowded and unsanitary. We already know that some officers and prisoners have been diagnosed with coronavirus and the very last thing we want is for prisons to become like 18th-century breeding grounds of disease.”

More than half of prisons and England and Wales are overcrowded, leading to fears that the coronavirus could easily spread among inmates and staff.

The prison population includes about 1,800 inmates aged 70 or over (four per cent), putting them at higher risk of developing life-threatening complications if infected.

According to the latest statistics, HMP Leeds is the fifth most overcrowded prison in England and Wales and is running at more than 1.5 times its uncrowded capacity.

Uncrowded capacity - or Certified Normal Accommodation - is the Prison Service's own measure of the good, decent standard of accommodation it aspires to provide all prisoners.

HMP Leeds in Armley has an uncrowded capacity of 667 but was running at 1,090 last month, the equivalent of 163 per cent of its desirable capacity.

The Prison Officers’ Association said while “obviously staff are concerned” about disease, it was working with the Government on systems which would keep its members and the prisoners safe.

Assistant General Secretary Mick Pimblett said: “Overcrowding is a concern, due to the contingencies we have in place for prisoners who are showing symptoms of coronavirus.”

He said the current procedure was to isolate such prisoners on their own in a single cell, “but with overcrowding that will be a problem”.

He said one measure being considered was placing two prisoners showing symptoms into a cell together.

Also in crime: Prisoner hid mobile phone covered in porridge in his mouth at Leeds jail

Across the world, leaders have been taking a variety of approaches to try to keep prison staff and inmates safe amid the global outbreak. Earlier this month, 12 prisoners died in Italy after rioting broke out at jails in response to restrictions imposed on family visits.

Here, the Government has announced a plan to release more prisoners fitted with electronic tags, but said the move was not linked to the current pandemic.

Prisons minister Lucy Frazer has said the safety of prisoners, staff and visitors is paramount.

In a statement earlier this month, she said: “Prisons have existing, well-developed policies and procedures in place to manage outbreaks of infectious diseases. This means prisons are well prepared to take immediate action whenever cases or suspected cases are identified, including isolating individuals where necessary.”

She said good hygiene was being promoted on posters throughout the prison system and handwashing facilities were available for staff, prisoners and visitors.

She said: “We have procedures agreed with our public health colleagues for protecting staff in the workplace but, like any member of the community, some prison staff may need to self-isolate in line with public health advice, or may become infected.

"We are taking steps to boost staff availability and so enable us to look after prisoners properly and minimise the impacts on prison regimes of staff absences.”

Prison visits have yet to be suspended, despite a confirmed case at HMP Manchester - known as Strangeways - and one at HMP High Down.

Visitors are being asked to follow the usual guidance around self-isolating if they are displaying coronavirus symptoms and are being reminded about other methods of staying in touch with inmates such as the Prison Voicemail Service.

Meanwhile, the Parole Board has announced it is suspending all face to face hearings with immediate effect in response to Government guidance around the importance of social distancing and not going out.

It said: "The health and wellbeing of our members, staff and participants in the parole system must come first. Whilst Parole Board current face to face hearings are paused, the board will progress cases through a combination of remote hearings and a new intensive paper review process, combined where necessary with case management hearing."

Also in crime: Leeds prison had 200 drug-related ambulance call-outs in just six months

How full are the prisons in West Yorkshire?

According to the latest statistics, three of the county's five prisons are currently overcrowded.

HMP Leeds - 423 prisoners or 63% above capacity

HMP New Hall - 27 prisoners or 7% above capacity

HMP Wealstun - 13 prisoners or 2% above capacity

HMP Wakefield - 19 prisoners or 3% below capacity

HMP Wetherby - 89 prisoners or 26% below capacity