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Prisoners: Mobile Phones

Answer

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.

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.

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.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

HL3395

Session

2019-21

Subjects

Conduct Families Prisoners Mobile phones Prison visitors

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk