Over the last 2 years, more than 70 cutting-edge X-ray body
scanners have been installed in all closed male prisons,
producing super-sharp images of concealed contraband so staff can
easily find and stop dangerous items from entering jails.
These scanners have thwarted almost 20,000 attempts to smuggle
contraband on to wings, including one massive haul consisting of
81 individually wrapped white rocks of crack cocaine.
Building on this success, since the beginning of the year 42
of the most challenging prisons have been kitted out with even
more high-end equipment. This includes new drug-trace machines
that can detect microscopic smears of new psychoactive substances
such as ‘spice’ on mail and items of clothing –
stopping dangerous drugs from getting onto wings and wreaking
havoc.
Gates at these prisons have also been beefed up with new
metal detection archways and wands, extra drug dogs and biometric
identification for the public. As a result, for the first time
ever staff can effectively search visitors coming into jails and
seize items such as phones and weapons that can fuel further
crime and violence behind bars.
Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary
said:
With this innovative new technology, we are enforcing our zero
tolerance approach to drugs, knives and mobile phones in prisons.
Illicit contraband endangers our hard-working staff and thwarts
the efforts of other prisoners who are serious about their
rehabilitation.
Alongside abstinence-based drug treatment, getting more prisoners
than ever into work and improving facilities to maintain family
ties, our strategy will make our streets safer and protect the
public.
This success reflects record £100 million government
investment in innovative technology to keep drugs, mobile phones
and weapons out of jails.
The government’s ambitious plan to transform the prison estate
and cut crime builds on this, as outlined in December’s
Prisons Strategy White Paper.
Commitments in the White Paper include:
- All new build prisons to be equipped with security measures
that cut crime as standard, including the latest technological
innovations to thwart drugs, phones and weapons; X-ray body
scanners and biometric visitor identification
- New facilities to support those with drug and alcohol issues
to turn their backs on debilitating addictions that stand in the
way of proper rehabilitation, including abstinence-based therapy
- A new Prisoner Education Service will help every prisoner
leaving custody to gain the basics they need to find work on
release
- Transparent prison performance data and new targets for
prison governors, with an emphasis on reducing reoffending,
improving safety and security, getting prisoners off drugs and
improving basic skills such as numeracy and literacy
