TVP confirm Banbury Police Station is being used as 'dedicated Covid-19 suite' for detainees

Banbury Police Station (file Banbury Guardian photo)

Thames Valley Police said the 'Banbury Custody suite' is now being used as a 'dedicated Covid-19 suite,' which means anybody who comes into their custody with suspected Covid-19 will be processed through that suite.

A TVP spokesperson said: "Anyone else who is not suspected of being infected, are processed elsewhere across the force area. This protocol is aimed at reducing the risk of cross infection to staff and detainees."

Chief Superintendent Robert France, the Gold Commander for Thames Valley Police’s response to the Coronavirus, said the following about the police strategy:

"Thames Valley Police implemented the Covid-19 suite at Banbury where all those suspected of being infected with the virus or at high risk of being so, for example those who have recently been in high risk countries, are detained.

"Furthermore, everybody charged and remanded from this dedicated suite are presented to court via Video Remand Hearings (VRH).

"The decision to support VRH for defendants charged and remanded from custody is based primarily on the safety of everybody who comes through custody.

"In addition to this, Thames Valley Police also presents by way of VRH all those who are clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) from any of our other (non-Covid) suites, so as to reduce the risk of infection to them.

"Those who are CEV, but are not symptomatic or tested positive for Covid-19 will be managed under this protocol, and will be kept away from the dedicated Covid suite to ensure their safety in our custody.

"We will continue to maintain this protocol as long as it is necessary to do so, and present anybody in the above criteria to court via VRH.

"We can confirm that we have not put anybody to court in person, who has displayed any symptoms, has informed us of a positive Covid test, is suspected to be infected or who has been self-isolating.

"These individuals would automatically be processed via our dedicated Covid suite, and would be put to court via a VRH."