We were happy to host the Secretary of State for Justice Robert Buckland, local MP Steve Brine Steve Brine MP and Prison Group Director Andy Lattimore and brief them on HMP Winchester‘s management of the Covid crisis and great progress. The team are proud to share recent achievements.

Some news reports of ‘disturbances’ here. Just an ordinary day. 2 at height removed by specialist prison staff. 1 self harmed by setting fire to his cell. Prison officers inundated, removed barricade and saved a man’s life. Ordinary day; extraordinary staff. #hiddenheroes

The High Sheriff of Hampshire came to give awards to #HiddenHeroes today to support our celebration of #HiddenHeroesDay. We flew the flag, enjoyed a meal, admired the artwork and then got back to the day job. Great to see events celebrating our public service around the nation.

The annual IMB report out today. Recognition of improvements in violence, staff retention, disabled provision , relationships, drug detection, complaints, induction, equalities, Mental health provision, 0 suicide in a year & successful containment of Cv19 BUT still a lot to do.

Thanks to Bernadette MacDonald-Raggett Blackmotivationalspeaker.co.uk for her contribution to our #BlackHistoryMonth event today. Great interaction and challenging conversations with socially distanced audiences of staff and prisoners.

Cv-19: There are no positive cases among prisoners. Some staff tested positive in the last two weeks, 3 are currently still off sick (get well soon). At worst 84 staff were unavailable due to contact tracing, but just 20 today! With cooperation and flexibility all runs as planned

Thanks to our colleagues ⁦HMP Guys Marsh⁩ for supporting us in developing our new recruits and for putting on a special passsing out parade. We welcomed our new #hiddenheroes (5 each!) and together remembered past heroes. An excellent event and a credit to all involved.

Following the end of national restrictions we will revert to the previous Covid regime. This includes a resumption of social visits. Prisoners’ families can book visits now. Video calls are also available. Extra phone credit continues & plans for vaccinations are being discussed.

High Sheriff awards received today for our Listeners- criminal Justice Volunteering Award; Chaplain Tim and Spurgeons staff- Exceptional Contribution Commendation; Chaplain Cliff- for work in the prison and community with Restorative Justice. Well done all.

If you are on duty, thank you for your service. If you are working in a prison, thank you even more. If you’re working with us, thank you the most! If you are off, enjoy and come back refreshed. If you are on call, put that drink down!! If you are eating (again) - why not!

We ask you to retweet and share the following. The PGA continue to call upon government to make the brave decision to give priority for prison workers and prisoners for C19 vaccinations. We are going through some of our darkest times, vaccines are the light at the tunnel end 1/2

The Covid situation is much improved but Social visits remain suspended in adult prisons due to current community restrictions (until told otherwise) As prisons start to recover there will be opportunities to cautiously open the regime and this will be reviewed weekly by HMPPS

Our visits booking no. is 0345 223 5514. Visits continue with Covid restrictions for now. Children under 11 are allowed physical contact. The 0345 no. is free from a mobile, if you have an inclusive minutes plan, or the cost of a local call on pay as you go.

HMP Winchester is now in COVID outbreak. Sadly we have to cancel all face to face social visits for the main jail (Westhill and Hearn are currently unaffected) for a minimum of 28 days. We apologise and encourage the use of video calls.The situation will be continually reviewed.

Update on our Covid outbreak:

Update on our Covid outbreak:

Covid controls seem to be working. No. of cases dropping as days go by. Face to face visits (no contact sorry) back on and other activities running in a Covid safe way. Omicron looms large so longer term remains uncertain. Policy remains: Do as much as we can as safely as we can.

Today we’re celebrating #HiddenHeroesDay 🎉 Join us in recognising and thanking our great staff and partners helping people to be the best they can👏

Young adults summit today was a great success thanks to all the contributors and enthusiastic audience. @bearfacetheatre and the fabulous prisoner performers deserve special mention. Increased understanding of the issues young prison people face will drive best practice.

Thanks to our staff, volunteers, contractors and supporters who contributed to success in 2022. Well done to you all: to prisoners who work to use their time wisely and to family/friends who loyally support them. Well done, you are all ‘doers of great deeds’. 2023 needs you!