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<p>On 31 March, we announced that pregnant women and prisoners with their babies in
custody will be considered for Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) on compassionate
grounds during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Friday 1 May, 21 pregnant women and mothers
with babies in custody have been released.</p><p> </p><p>On 4 April, we announced
the End of Custody Temporary Release scheme. This scheme enables risk-assessed prisoners,
who are within two months of their release date, to be temporarily released from custody,
as part of the national approach to managing public services during this challenging
period. As of Friday 1 May, 30 offenders have been released under this scheme.</p><p>
</p><p>Policy and guidance for both the End of Custody Temporary Release and COVID-19:
Use of Compassionate ROTL can be found on gov.uk and is attached with this answer.</p><p><br>
HMPPS took decisive action in March to restrict regimes and minimise movements between
jails to save lives. Strong further measures were introduced to ease pressure on prisons
with the early release of <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/measures-announced-to-protect-nhs-from-coronavirus-risk-in-prisons"
target="_blank">low-risk offenders</a>, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prison-estate-expanded-to-protect-nhs-from-coronavirus-risk"
target="_blank">temporary expansion of the estate</a>, and work to reduce the number
of those held on remand.</p><p>Latest modelling informed by new Public Health England
advice shows that creating headroom of c. 5,000 could be effective in limiting the
spread of the virus. The population has already reduced by almost 3,000 over a seven-week
period. Combining a reduction in the prison population, creating additional headroom
in the estate, and managing prisoners through ‘compartmentalisation’, HMPPS can continue
to protect life.</p><p>The modelling can be found on gov.uk and is also attached with
this answer.</p>
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