Ford Prison inmate's anger at prisoner transfer during lockdown: 'the MOJ is risking a powder keg going off'

The paper was sent a letter claiming to be from an inmate of the prison in Ford Road, Ford, in which they alleged that the Ministry of Justice had transferred five inmates from Rochester Prison in Kent during the lockdown.

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Relative of Ford Prison inmate supports early release of inmates amid pandemicThey said: "The MOJ is risking a powder keg going off - not only are prisoners getting restless, but the staff morale is dropping.

"With all the restrictions, HMP ford was trying to make some space for existing prisoners through natural releases, like those being released or going on tag.

"This space has now been filled by people from outside."

They went on to say: "Why should we be treated any differently to the general public when a killer disease is spreading?"

The inmate said that guards were 'valiantly trying to enforce a two-metre distance policy', with lines spray painted on the road and pathways for their allocated exercise time.

All non-essential work and permitted off-site visits had also been cancelled, the letter, said, and the library, education facilities and chapel had been shut down, which 'inmates understood' the rationale for.

In a separate email from a different source, the paper was also sent a photo that appeared to show an internal memo from the prison to all inmates, which said there was a suspected case of Covid-19 in the prison and an accomodation unit had been put into protective isolation for two weeks.

According to this memo, the inmate had been at HMP Ford since January 31 and had been going to hospital for appointments relating to separate health condition, the last being on March 19.

The paper understands they have since been tested and the results came back as negative.

All of these claims were put to the prison service, and in response a spokesman said: "We have robust and flexible plans in place to protect prison staff, the public and prisoners, based on the latest advice from Public Health England."