How are you doing?
Times are changing in prison. The vaccine is rolling out, cases of Covid-19 have reduced significantly and some prisons are tentatively starting up activities and visits again. It’s been a difficult year.
National Prison Radio wants to hear from you. We want to know how you’re doing. We also want to know how you’re feeling about prison life and the changes we’re going through.
In the year since the Covid-19 pandemic began, life in prisons has changed drastically. Prisons have been running on reduced regimes to curb the spread of the virus and prevent infection. Visits from loved ones have been cancelled, while education and activities were put on hold. Many restrictions introduced over a year ago have remained in place right until today.
National Prison Radio has been committed to providing you with accurate information and support throughout this time. We’ve brought you the latest information about the impact of the virus on prison life, courts and Parole Board hearings. We’ve also been the place for you to voice your concerns.
Back in March 2020 we introduced the National Prison Radio Freephone Line, available to everyone in prison via the wing phones. The Freephone Line has allowed you to keep in touch with us, leave a message and have your thoughts reflected on air. In the first week alone we received well over 1,000 calls, and 12 months later we’re at well over 36,000 phone calls and still counting. This means you’ve been able to put your questions to the experts and people at the top who run our prisons.
We’ve featured a series of interviews with senior leaders from the Prison Service, including Director General Phil Copple who answers your questions every week. We’ve also welcomed Chief Executive Jo Farrar, Secretary of State for Justice Robert Buckland and Executive Director Michelle Jarman-Howe to the airwaves. They’ve answered your questions about how the Prison Service is responding to the outbreak.
Now, with the vaccination being rolled out, a return to normality is coming. As the roadmap to ending lockdown unfolds, National Prison Radio wants to continue to support you at this crucial time. We want to hear from you. We want to know how you feel about the past 12 months, and the next 12 months. We want to hear what prison life feels like, and how you’re feeling as activities start to return. As always, we’re interested in receiving your questions so we can put them directly to the people at the top.
To give us your views and questions, call National Prison Radio for free on 0808 123 1234 or write to us at National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF.
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