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<p>Visits play an important part of reducing reoffending as good relationships with
family and friends is proved to reduce risk of reoffending.</p><p>The management and
guidance for the use of closed visits is within Prison Service Instruction (PSI) 15/2011.
The PSI specifies that closed visits should be imposed where there is an identified
risk of smuggling prohibited items.</p><p>We recognise the benefits that Internet
Based Video Services (IBVS) can provide in assisting prisoners with maintaining family
ties. At present, however, prisoners are not allowed to use an IBVS as a way of communicating,
due to operational concerns about the control measures available to safeguard the
use of such communications. Work is currently underway to explore the options for
the use of IBVS in establishments with strict safeguards in place, and the possibility
of making greater use of such within prisons in the near future.</p><p> </p>
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