European governments fear often overcrowded prisons are virus time bombs during this pandemic and are looking at early releases and other ways to reduce the risk for those behind bars.

While no EU-wide policy has yet emerged, individual member states have already taken steps to reduce penitentiary populations, aware that social distancing is impossible for those incarcerated.

France, for instance, has since mid-March reduced its prisoner and detainee population by nearly 10 per cent, by putting off custodial sentences for less-serious crimes, suspending terms for medical reasons, freeing some who were jailed awaiting trial, and allowing early release.

Greece has taken similar measures to release 1,500 prisoners.

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