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17/11/2015
Magilligan Prisoners Allowed To Use Skype To Contact Their Families
Over 70 prisoners at Magilligan in L'Derry can use Skype to make personal video calls to their families, it has been revealed.
This is the first prison in the UK to introduce the facility as part of a new rehabilitation project.
Governor of Magilligan David Eagleson said it is an important part of the rehabilitation process.
Mr Eagleson said: "We launched Skype as a pilot scheme at the end of last year. Apart from the initial cost in installing the equipment, it is free to use. The link is set up in a safe and secure environment for a prisoner to make personal video calls to loved ones for up to 30 minutes each week. The suite is completely sound-proof, but security cameras monitor the calls.
"The uptake among the prison population was slow to start but it is being used by more and more prisoners, including foreign nationals, who are husbands and fathers and those who wish to maintain a good relationship with their families. We are now also planning to roll it out to more prisoners in the future."
(CD/JP)
This is the first prison in the UK to introduce the facility as part of a new rehabilitation project.
Governor of Magilligan David Eagleson said it is an important part of the rehabilitation process.
Mr Eagleson said: "We launched Skype as a pilot scheme at the end of last year. Apart from the initial cost in installing the equipment, it is free to use. The link is set up in a safe and secure environment for a prisoner to make personal video calls to loved ones for up to 30 minutes each week. The suite is completely sound-proof, but security cameras monitor the calls.
"The uptake among the prison population was slow to start but it is being used by more and more prisoners, including foreign nationals, who are husbands and fathers and those who wish to maintain a good relationship with their families. We are now also planning to roll it out to more prisoners in the future."
(CD/JP)
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