The unprecedented option will be available to prison bosses if too many prison officers contract COVID-19 and have to stay at home, The Times reports.

Police officers would normally step in to deal with a shortage of prison officers, but the virus outbreak is expected to cause staffing shortfalls for police forces as well.

Two prison officers and one prisoner have so far been diagnosed with COVID-19 across prisons in England and Wales.

A spokesperson for HM Prison Service said: “We have the ability to deploy staff flexibly and will prioritise the safety of officers, prisoners and visitors while ensuring minimal possible disruption to normal regimes.”