28 March 2020|Prison Governors’ Association|
The Prison Governors’ Association believes that the decisions and leadership at the most senior level are helping to mitigate some of the risk, but it is important to say, there still remains significant risk.
Featured imagei via Mohamed Elmaazi
26 March 2020
PRISON GOVERNORS’ ASSOCIATION – COVID-19
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
These are unprecedented times in prisons, never seen before. On a normal business as usual day, Governors and their teams have to manage the risk of suicide, self-harm, violence and disorder. We now have the coronavirus added to these risks, with serious depleted staffing levels looming in the coming weeks.
The Prison Governors’ Association believes that the decisions and leadership at the most senior level are helping to mitigate some of the risk, but it is important to say, there still remains significant risk. To run a severely restricted regime across the Service for weeks on end to help delay the spread of the virus and protect those most vulnerable is a mammoth task. Depleted staffing levels mean that those fit and well will be working very long hours in an extremely challenging environment. The international shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the difficulty of securing robust constant supplies makes delaying the spread and protecting staff a constant serious concern for governors. The testing of prisoners for the virus is not routine nor consistent across the prison estate. There is no routine testing of prison frontline staff, which means we now have colleagues in the thousands self-isolating, many of whom could be at work if testing was available. Despite the prison population reducing slightly, we still remain an overcrowded Service, with a number of our prisons holding two people in a cell built for one, which adds to the challenges of self-isolating. We also have dormitory accommodation which makes social distancing a challenge. It is impossible to mirror exactly Government edict in a prison, despite the enormous efforts of managers and their staff.
The Prison Governors’ Association believes the following will help support front line colleagues in managing a risk we have never seen before in our lifetime.
Prioritise prison staff for testing both for the virus and antibodies. This will allow us to boost unnecessary depleted staffing levels to support the efforts in prison.
Routine testing of all prisoners so we know what we are dealing with. This will allow us to understand the level of infection and help cohort prisoners depending on results to protect and care appropriately. This will actually support our magnificent NHS colleagues in dealing with the virus.
Prioritise, along with NHS colleagues, prison staff for available PPE to help delay the spread of the virus and maintain their health and wellbeing.
Government must look at early release schemes at speed for lower risk offenders, this is particularly pertinent to women offenders who we know pose the least risk to society. This will reduce the level of overcrowding, always a good thing for stability during challenging times. It will also help delay the spread of the virus through prisons, so from a health perspective there is an imperative.
Governors and their teams are best when their backs are against the wall. As key frontline workers, their commitment to doing the absolute best for the people in their care and the national effort will be exceptional.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Note for editors:
The Prison Governors Association was founded in October 1987 to represent the higher operational managers in the Prison Service in England and Wales. The PGA was placed on the register of Trade Unions on 6 November 1987 (No. 639T). On 28 July 1988 the Certification Officer under the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 issued the Prison Governors Association with a Certificate of Independence. The status of the Prison Governors Association is that of an independent registered Trade Union.
*UPDATE: This article was updated on 29 March 2020, at 15:01 to note the author of the feature image