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<p>In recognition of the importance of continued contact with family and to ensure
stability in our jails the Government has moved quickly to keep prisoners in touch
with their family members by the introduction of 900 secure mobile PIN phones for
those prisons which do not already have in-cell telephony. These are in addition to,
but operate in the same way, as wing PIN phones which remain in use.</p><p> </p><p>Behaviour
is not part of the formal risk assessment for the allocation of mobile telephones
for prisoners’ use. Access to the locked mobile PIN phones is given following completion
of a risk assessment, for those deemed to represent the greatest risk to the public
and require additional safeguards approval must be given by the Governing Governor.</p><p>
</p><p>There has been no recent assessment of the impact of mobile PIN telephone use
on families in the absence of visits. However, Lord Farmer’s Report in June 2019,
“The Importance of Strengthening Female Offenders' Family and other Relationships
to Prevent Reoffending and Reduce Intergenerational Crime” shows that facilitating
regular family contact can reduce a prisoners’ likelihood of reoffending by 39%. Family
members are also able to contact the National Prisoners’ Families helpline or the
prison’s safer custody line if they have individual concerns.</p>
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