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<p>HMPPS recognises that families or significant relationships can play an important
role in supporting prisoners to reduce their risk of reoffending following release.
We have implemented a number of the recommendations from the 2017 Farmer Review and
continue to publish updates on progress on these every six months.</p><p>Visits have
been suspended after the Government took vital steps to limit travel and social interactions
in order to limit the spread of the virus. In recognition of the importance of continued
contact with family, however, the Government has moved swiftly to keep prisoners in
touch with their family members by other means.</p><p>As part of new measures introduced
because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ministers have approved the use of 900 locked SIM
card handsets, allowing risk-assessed prisoners to speak to a small number of pre-authorised
contacts.</p><p>Strict measures will ensure the phones are not misused with calls
being time-limited and monitored closely. Additionally, handsets will include tamper-proof
tape to prevent non-secure SIM cards being used.</p><p>As well as helping prisoners
connect with their families, the phones will give prisoners access to support services
such as the Samaritans, therefore reducing their risk of self-harm at a uniquely difficult
time.</p><p>We are also urgently exploring options for the safe and secure use of
video solutions in a range of establishments to facilitate family video calling. We
expect that this approach will be available imminently to support the current situation,
but beyond this, will consider how best to utilise the video-calling services to enable
prisoners to maintain contact where they have historically not received regular visits.</p>
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