Staff at HMP Nottingham are helping prisoners to stay in touch with their children by creating special craft packs that can be done by both dad and child – one of many initiatives in prisons across the East Midlands to maintain important family ties and boost rehabilitation during the pandemic.
The packs have been donated and sent to children of prisoners so they can take part in activities with their dads during secure video calls – providing an additional and novel way of keeping in touch with loved ones while social visits remain on hold to limit the spread of the virus.
Stringent safety measures are currently in place across prisons in England and Wales to protect staff and prisoners, help save lives and protect the local NHS – action which has ultimately led to significantly fewer infections than predicted at the start of the pandemic.
Committed officers across the region have since come up with innovative ways to support and care for offenders while measures remain in place, continuing to provide them with the activities and social interaction vital to their rehabilitation.
Other schemes underway include:
- Staff at HMP Stocken (Rutland) have set up the Covid Community Awards, where prisoners compete with staff to keep the prison wings clean – keeping men busy while also providing a vital communal service;
- HMP Ranby (Retford) has set up remote learning units, teaching courses such as English, Maths and Business, so prisoners can continue to progress with their rehabilitation during lockdown;
- Staff & Prisoners at HMP Nottingham have made scrubs for staff at Sheffield Hospital and over a thousand headbands for local care homes.
Prisons Minister Lucy Frazer MP QC said:
“In perhaps the gravest challenge to ever face the prison system, frontline staff in the East Midlands have shown unwavering dedication in keeping the virus out of the estate and continuing with the vital job of rehabilitating prisoners.
“This selfless work, alongside decisive action taken by Government throughout, will help us double down on our efforts as we continue to curb the virus, save lines and protect the NHS.”
Deborah Searson- Smith, Deputy Governor at HMP Nottingham said:
“We needed to be innovative in our prisons as a result of the pandemic to both support the people we have in our care and their loved ones.
“The prisoners have been very receptive to the initiatives and we thank all the agencies and charities who have helped us at HMP Nottingham because, for every act of kindness, there is a person who will feel the positive impact of it.”
In addition, secure video calls are now up and running in all prisons in the East Midlands – ensuring prisoners can continue to see their friends and family during the pandemic. With the final installation of the technology having taken place in December, over 90,000 video calls have been made across prisons in England and Wales in just over six months.
The secure video calls are allowing prisoners to see their toddlers take their first steps, say goodbye to a terminally ill loved one and helping those struggling with their mental health.
Evidence shows that offenders with close family ties are less likely to re-offend which costs the tax-payer around £18bn per year, creating safer communities and ultimately reducing crime.
