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<p>In March 2020 temporary restrictions were put in place to minimise movements between
jails. As at 12th January 2021 inter-prison transfers (including transfers from closed
to open prisons) have not been stopped entirely as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic
and we continue safely to undertake inter-prison transfers, where required. Transfers
between prisons, particularly progressive transfers to open and resettlement prisons,
are necessary in order to ensure that space remains within local/reception prisons
to accept new receptions from court and to ensure prisoners are held in prisons providing
an appropriate level of security.</p><p>In order to control the transmission of the
virus, prisoners who are transferred to another prison are quarantined upon arrival
in order to manage any risks they might bring and protect the rest of a prison’s population.
As of 14th January 2021, we are also testing all new arrivals and transfers twice
in the first 6 days in 109 prisons across the estate. We continue to explore testing
technologies and opportunities in this area. Any prisoners with positive results or
symptomatic prisoners are not transferred. This approach ensures that any infection
that occurs amongst the arriving cohort is limited only to those with whom they have
arrived.</p><p>Whilst transfers into the majority of prisons have not ceased, specific
prisons may have temporarily to pause their transfers in/out in the event of a declared
outbreak. The timeframes associated with this pause, as well as the recovery measures
required, are monitored nationally by HMPPS and taken in close consultation with Public
Health England.</p>
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