Five wings of the Category B HMP Forest Bank prison in Agecroft have been put on a 28 day lockdown after a small number of staff and inmates tested positive for Covid-19.
The knock on effect has led to delays in trials due to take place as prisoners in affected areas are unable to travel to local courts across Greater Manchester for hearings.
Sources say that at least one serious trial has suffered from delays already due to the outbreak, as even virtual hearings are affected as prisoners are unable to be moved to the live video link suite due to precautions in place to stop the spread of the virus to other prison populations at the 1,460 capacity Sodexo ran prison.
Plea hearings and sentences are said to have been adjourned to later dates.
A similar outbreak was reported at HMP Manchester which adding to the problem and backlogs in the court system.
A spokesperson for HMP Forest Bank said:
Quote
“A small number of staff and prisoners on five of the sixteen wings within Forest Bank recently tested positive for COVID-19.
"The current situation is well controlled and under constant review.
"We continue to liaise with Public Health England and the local authority to limit transmission of the infection and keep staff and prisoners safe.”
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