The prison is dealing with the ’irresponsible and selfish’ 1% of the population not keeping to the Covid-19 rules, its governor says.

Bob McColm stated at the government’s pandemic press briefing on Monday that the jail is in lockdown, having reconfigured the facility with an isolation wing for incoming offenders and inmates showing coronavirus symptoms.

He said: ’The reason why we are in lockdown is because of the increasing number in breaches of emergency powers.

’Sadly we have to deal with the 1% [of the island population] that are irresponsible and selfish. They put at risk not only our community, but the police, the courts, the escort staff at Newlands and my staff.’

The prison has had only one confirmed case of Covid-19 - that being an offender who contracted the virus before arriving at the Jurby prison.

Originally a small section of the prison, the isolation wing was changed to a larger wing to accommodate all incoming offenders.

The isolation wing contains single cells with inmates being spread across the section and staff members volunteering to keep watch.

’Seeing them shoulder-to-shoulder with the magnificent healthcare staff getting through that wing has been brilliant,’ Mr McColm said.

’We have enough staff to run the prison safely and the well-being and safety of the staff and the prisoners is our absolute priority.’

He added: ’I’m very proud of my staff, they’ve been turning up day after day with new shift patterns at a moment’s notice.

’Some of the prisoners are doing their bit too, having scrubbed trousers, assembling visors... from the prison kitchen in the past year they have prepared 1,500 meals for the foodbank.

’I believe adversity brings out the best in people. Because of the great people I work with, I know that we will get through this.’

Speaking as the head of probation services, Mr McColm added that this team has worked alongside the police and Department of Health and Social Care to open up a homeless facility in a hotel in the south of the island.

This was done in less than 10 days.

Due to being in lockdown, the prison no longer has visiting hours but is looking at having a video link and in-cell telephony set up.

Prisoners are still getting out of their cells, but just in twos or threes.

He thinks that lockdown may have a bigger impact on inmates the longer it goes on.

’We’ve got to get that balance right between making sure we’re keeping them safe but also their well-being,’ he said.