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<p>In response to COVID-19, the MoJ/HMPPS took decisive action to protect staff and
prisoners. These changes are set out in ‘COVID-19: National Framework for Prison Regimes
and Services’, available attached and here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-national-framework-for-prison-regimes-and-services"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-national-framework-for-prison-regimes-and-services</a>.
In line with this framework and public health advice, at different times during the
pandemic social face-to-face visits in the adult estate have had to be temporarily
suspended (other than on exceptional compassionate grounds which need to be agreed
in advance with the prison). Visits to children in the Youth Custody Estate (YCS)
have continued. Official/ legal visits have continued, conducted remotely where possible.</p><p>
</p><p>Social visits during the pandemic have taken place in line with the National
Framework and a regime Exception Delivery Model with additional measures put in place
to ensure that they can do so in a COVID-19 secure manner. These have had to include
restricting the numbers of visits, length of visits and numbers of visitors in each
session. We do not require evidence of a negative test as a pre-cursor to visiting.
Decisions as to how visits operate at each establishment within this framework are
determined through locally led assessments informed by Public Health advice. Information
on how visits operate is set out on each establishment’s information page on GOV.UK,
available here; <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/prisons-in-england-and-wales"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/prisons-in-england-and-wales</a>,
and communicated to those wishing to visit as part of the local booking arrangements.
In line with the National Framework, arrangements for social visits remain under constant
review in light of public health guidance.</p><p> </p><p>Data on the numbers of visits
is not collated and held nationally. This information cannot therefore be provided
without disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>As part of a wider package of measures
to enable those in prison and the YCS to maintain contact with families and significant
others throughout the pandemic, we also introduced circa 1,500 additional mobile PIN
phones, have provided additional PIN credit and have introduced an emergency secure
Video Calling service which to date has supported over 100,000 calls.</p>
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