-
Seven prisons get strengthened gate security
-
Innovative technology will help find more illicit items
than ever before
-
Part of government’s £100 million prison security
package
Seven jails are set to receive innovative new equipment to tackle
the smuggling of drugs, phones and weapons behind bars, as
efforts to make our prisons safer gather pace.
Berwyn, Bristol, Hewell, Lancaster Farms, Leeds, Liverpool and
Norwich jails are the first to benefit from the Government’s
recently announced £100 million investment in prison security –
with the measures set to be introduced in other prisons across
the estate.
Tough airport-style security, including X-ray baggage and metal
detection equipment, will step-up searching of visitors and staff
on entry to jails, enforced by specially-trained officers. This
is part of a wider package of measures including X-ray body
scanners for offenders and drug-detection kits to identify and
deter attempts to smuggle narcotics, such as Spice, through
prisoner mail.
Alongside strengthening security at the prison gate and
reception, the £100 million investment includes a new digital
forensics facility, expanded digital investigations team and
phone-blocking technology to clampdown on the organised crime
behind bars that drives violence and self-harm.
Prisons Minister, said:
The gate and reception are key areas of vulnerability to
smuggling and more robust searching of staff, visitors and
prisoners will help reduce the flow of drugs, phones and
weapons.
This game-changing package of equipment is part of the
Government’s new £2.75bn investment to modernise and maintain
our prisons, create 10,000 additional places, and crack down on
crime behind bars.
All of these elements are crucial as we create a system that
can rehabilitate, cut reoffending and ultimately make our
communities safer.
The chosen prisons have been prioritised as they face significant
security challenges and the new measures – set to be in place by
spring 2020 – will make a significant difference to the stability
of each jail.
The specialist gate security is being funded from the
government’s previously announced £2.75 billion package to
transform the prison estate. This includes:
- £100 million to bolster prison security – with the new
enhanced gate security and digital forensics facility, alongside
tough airport-style security and phone-blocking technology to
clamp down on violence, self-harm and crime behind bars.
- £2.5 billion to provide 10,000 additional prison places and
create modern, efficient jails that rehabilitate offenders,
reduce reoffending and keep the public safe.
- £156 million for pressing maintenance to create safe and
decent conditions for offender rehabilitation.
