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<p /> <p>The External Communications team at the Ministry of Justice receives a significant
number of requests by local and national media for access to prisons. For operational
reasons and resource implications it is not possible to facilitate all requests.</p><p>
</p><p>Each request is considered on its own merit, with careful thought over the
subject area, resource and security implications, victim impact, and value to the
taxpayer. In a similar way to the police or the NHS, there are operational considerations
to be made when filming or reporting in prisons. When facilitating media access we
must ensure that the needs of victims are met, which may involve concealing identities,
carrying out relevant checks and liaising directly with victims about the access request.
We must also ensure that media access does not breach any security restrictions, for
example filming keys or locks. Consideration is also given to protecting the identities
of prisoners and staff.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to providing open and transparent
access to prison and regularly provide access to journalists for news items, features
and documentary programmes. We aim to provide a range of access to different journalists
covering both print and broadcast media, local, national and online media.</p><p>
</p><p>Since the beginning of January 2015 we have provided access to a range of media
outlets, a few examples are listed below:</p><p> </p><ul><li>The Guardian were given
access to HMP New Hall - http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jan/30/new-hall-womens-prison-inmates-equals</li><li>BBC
and the Sun were giving access to HMP Coldingley</li><li>Regional BBC were giving
access to HMP Northumberland (Sodexo run prison)</li><li>Telegraph and Heart Radio
were giving access to HMP Drake Hall</li><li>Evening Standard and regional BBC were
giving access to HMP Thameside (Serco run prison)</li><li>BBC Radio 4 were giving
access to HMP Prescoed/HMP Cardiff</li><li>Sky Sports were giving access to HMP Feltham</li><li>National
BBC, regional ITV and the Manchester Evening News were giving access to HMP Styal</li><li>Evening
Standard and London Live were giving access to HMP Isis</li><li>East Anglia Daily
Times and regional BBC radio were giving access to HMP Hollesley Bay</li><li>Sky News
were given access to HMP Ranby</li><li>ITV were given access to HMP Norwich</li></ul>
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