Ford Prison inspection: coronavirus cases revealed, prisoners’ ‘frustration’ at release scheme suspension

The HM Inspectorate of Prisons visited the open prison in Ford Road, Ford, on June 9 and found that overall, the staff had protected prisoners from Covid-19.

But, suspending release on temporary licence for prisoners to visit family, work or get education and training was now becoming an issue.

The report said the March 23 suspension for prisoners – apart for those doing key worker roles – was ‘necessary’ at the start of lockdown.

But Peter Clarke from HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, added: “Eleven weeks later we found a sense among prisoners that the establishments had lost their purpose.”

Inmates at Ford are low-level offenders, or prisoners at the end of their sentence.

Mr Clarke said: “Many prisoners had worked for years to gain the opportunity to move to open conditions.

“Others had been working out in the community for some time and had begun to build a new life even before release.

“Prisoners felt the loss of opportunity keenly and levels of frustration were high.”

Ford staff visited inmate employers to ‘assess infection control arrangements’ ahead of restrictions being lifted, which inspectors praised.

Prisoners also had supervised access to their mobile phones to call family members.

According to the report, one inmate tested positive for Covid-19 and three others had symptoms, Two members of staff tested positive for the virus since lockdown began.

There were also an increase in drug finds at Ford, but otherwise the prison was ‘reasonably calm’. Social distancing was generally adhered to, and access to basic facilities was good. However, prisoners had to hand wash their clothing in a bowl due to a lack of laundry facilities.

There was also a backlog of 42 dentist appointments for prisoners ‘ many of whom had dental pain, with no pathway for emergency treatment’.

Most inmates were ‘very critical’ of the quality and quantity of the food, but an ‘excellent’ outdoor gym had been provided while the main one remained closed.

Not enough staff had been face-fit tested for protective masks, ‘creating unnecessary risks’, the report found.