Twenty-fine prisoners freed from Perth Prison to help combat the spread of COVID-19

A total of 11 prisoners behind bars in Scottish prisons have returned to the Perth and Kinross

Twenty-five prisoners have been released early from Perth Prison as part of emergency measures to increase prison capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Scottish Prison Service has revealed all 11 inmates from Perth Prisons considered for early release in this second tranche of early releases were granted their freedom in addition to its 14 prisoners released earlier in May.

A total of 11 prisoners behind bars in Scottish prisons have returned to the Perth and Kinross area in both tranches.

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Six prisoners returned to Perth and Kinross in the first tranche (May 4 to May 18) with a further five prisoners from the Perth and Kinross area being given their freedom in the second tranche (May 19 to May 25).

Up to 450 prisoners are eligible for early release under the terms of the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020.

So far, a total of 272 people have been freed from prison in the first two phases of release. A further 108 prisoners are eligible for early release in the current final phase from May 26 to June 1. The actual breakdown of figures for this final phase are not yet available.

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The scheme was passed by the Scottish Parliament in April and was deemed necessary to provide the Scottish Prison Service with further capacity and allow for more single cell occupancy to keep prisoners and staff safe.

The prisoners, who were all sentenced to up to 18 months behind bars, were given their freedom under a “triple lock” set of restrictions.

A Scottish Prison Service report states: “In the first two tranches, 337 individuals were eligible. Two-hundred-and-seventy-two were released early, 36 had their release prevented by the Governor in Charge’s veto, and 29 were released for other reasons.

“None of those eligible in tranche one or two were symptomatic with COVID-19, which would have led to a delay in their release.”

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As of May 22, the Scottish Prison Service reported fewer than five cases of prisoners self-isolating with COVID-19 symptoms at Perth Prison with 15 prisoners self-isolating at six of its prisons. The SPS reports no confirmed cases of COVID-19 across its prison estate.

However, 18 per cent of the SPS workforce is absent with 11.7 per cent of the total workforce absent due to COVID-19.

But only 30 of the 798 members of staff currently absent have COVID-19 symptoms.

A total of 519 members of staff are absent for COVID-19 reasons because they are self-isolating, shielding or caring for family members.