Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Paragraph: 16
We are not clear as to why there is such wide variance across the estate...
Conclusion
We are not clear as to why there is such wide variance across the estate in type of regime and time out of cell. We agree with the Independent Monitoring Board and recommend that the Ministry of Justice set out clear expectations of the minimum time out of cell and activity to be provided at each phase of recovery. This is not currently clearly set out in the COVID-19: National Framework for Prisons and Services.
Paragraph Reference:
16
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The nature of the pandemic means the situation in any individual establishment can change very rapidly. Prisons must respond swiftly to outbreaks, and the need for staff to isolate can cause available numbers to fluctuate over time. At all times establishments continue to offer as much regime activity as can be safely delivered within local constraints. The type of regime that is safe to deliver can vary significant across different prison types depending on their population and their infrastructure. Establishments where the physical layout makes social distancing harder need to operate with smaller groups. We have brought in regime monitoring arrangements to understand what is being delivered during the pandemic. The minimum regime offer for all prisoners, which includes daily access to exercise, domestics (e.g. phone calls, showers and cell cleans) currently ranges from around 1–3 hours a day out of cell. Prisoners in employment or education are able to access more than this. We anticipate that we will be able to continue to meaningfully expand access to rehabilitative programmes and activities as we move through the phases of recovery and are able to relax controls. Where tackling an outbreak means we need to re-impose strict regime restrictions temporarily, we are committed to maintaining a basic level of safety and decency for those in our care.