Secure video calls help inmates at Stocken Prison in Stretton stay in touch with their families while social visits are suspended during coronavirus pandemic

Secure video calls have been made available so that prisoners at HMP Stocken can stay in touch with their families.

More than 90,000 video calls totalling 45,000 hours have been made across the prison estate in just over six months, while social visits have been suspended.

Neil Thomas, governor at Stocken Prison in Stretton, said: “The introduction of video calls has been a hugely positive step for prisons and supports our strategy to modernise our estates and technologies.

“It represents a technological step change to our approach to family contact.

"Overall witnessing the introduction of video calls has been a very moving experience, it has also acted as a small beacon of hope in what has been a tough year for our residents and their families.”

A prisoner at Stocken said: "Seeing my family, my kids for the first time since March. Wow – I can’t put into words what that was like.

"It was really emotional seeing them on the screen but so good to know they’re all safe and well. I’m really grateful.”

The new technology builds on the 2017 Lord Farmer review which found that close bonds between prisoners and family members can significantly reduce their risk of reoffending, while 97 per cent of prisoners say that video calls have a positive impact on their mental health.

Also: Stocken Prison set for expansion