4th Report - Coronavirus (Covid-19): The impact on prisons

HMPPS states they have restarted elements of the regime and are supporting mental health by implementing new training, reviewing healthcare, rolling out a revised ACCT framework, and implementing the OMiC model to support prisoners at risk of self-harm.

The government details a range of existing products, guidance, and regime mitigations, including a self-help tool and family contact support, that have been implemented to support prisoners' mental health throughout the pandemic and will remain in place until Spring 2021.

HMPPS fully recognises the importance of family contact and has continued to roll out video calling to over 110 prisons, with facilities expected in every establishment by the end of the year, in addition to providing extra PIN telephone credit and mobile PIN phones.

The government confirms that 100% of prisons have fully implemented cohorting strategies, including compartmentalisation, and credits these existing measures with preventing explosive outbreaks and protecting lives.

The government provides a detailed explanation for the number of temporary releases, citing the need for case-by-case risk assessments for public protection, some prisoners' unwillingness or ineligibility, and the requirement for safe accommodation and support post-release. It states 54 prisoners had been released by the end of September.

The government accepted the recommendation, publishing updated prison population projections on November 26, 2020, which factored in increased police numbers. They also outlined ongoing assessments, investment plans, and measures to manage potential prison population influxes resulting from increased court activity.

The government states its National Framework is flexible for the youth estate and the Youth Custody Service has developed specific Exceptional Delivery Models, prioritised education, and commissioned research with workshops scheduled to implement learning from COVID-19 experiences into future regimes.