Social Media Access in Prisons

Opened the debate

MP Paul Howell discusses the issues of social media in prisons, referencing several tragic cases involving knife crime victims' families. He emphasises the negative impact of inmates using social media to influence and harass victims' families, mentioning specific incidents like a murderer rapping about his sentence on TikTok. Howell calls for stricter measures against mobile phones and social media access in prisons, advocating for innovative approaches such as virtual reality programmes to aid rehabilitation and prevent reoffending.

Government Response

Minister Edward Argar acknowledges the severity of social media misuse by inmates, particularly concerning knife crime cases. He outlines measures such as the digital media investigations unit for quick removal of harmful content online and emphasises strict penalties for illegal phone possession in prisons. The Government supports the Prison Media Bill to enhance legislation against unauthorised prison media uploads from both inside and outside. Argar also highlights investments in security technologies like X-ray body scanners, enhanced gate security at high-risk sites, and drone airspace restrictions around prisons. He discusses rehabilitative efforts including supervised internet access for rehabilitation purposes, social video calls with family members, and educational programmes like prison libraries. Finally, he urges support for the Prison Media Bill’s Second Reading to close loopholes in existing legislation.