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NT Correctional Services suspending visits for prisoners at the Darwin Correctional Centre

Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet

Northern Territory Correctional Services is suspending all social and professional visits to prisoners at the Darwin Correctional Centre from Monday 28 June 2021 until the declared lockdown is lifted.

The decision follows the NT Government’s declaration of a 48-hour lockdown across the Greater Darwin region including the local government areas of Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield as well as the Wagait and Belyuen Shires and Dundee Beach.

Acting Correctional Services Commissioner, David Thompson, says the move complies with the Chief Health Officer's direction and a necessary precautionary measure to minimise potential risks to the health and wellbeing of prisoners, staff, essential support service workers and the wider community.

‘We are also suspending visits from non-essential service providers including volunteers, official visitors and non-government organisations’, Mr Thompson explains.

‘Prisoners will continue to have access to essential medical and support services with some professional visitors such as lawyers looking to use video links and phone calls to continue any urgent contacts with prisoners.  

‘We recognise the importance of prisoners maintaining contact and ties with family and friends and visits will resume as soon as possible following the Chief Health Officer reviewing the risks of the current threat’, Mr Thompson says.

Mr Thompson will keep the community informed of any further restrictions that may be necessary in NT correctional facilities pending further government advice.

For the latest updates on the NT Government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic visit the coronavirus.nt.gov.au website.

Media contact: Christine Bond, 0447 767 101

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