Following on from our article ‘the first UK Prisons to receive X-ray baggage scanners’ last November, it has been revealed that even more UK prisons are to receive the technology.
After installation at 10 other prisons in 2018, a further 16 prisons will have the technology installed. These prisons have been chosen as they have been classified as the most challenging prisons in England and Wales. They are Birmingham, Wandsworth, Liverpool, Bedford, Exeter, HMP Durham, Preston, Hewell, Lincoln, Norwich, Chelmsford, Winchester, Elmley, Pentonville, Bristol and Cardiff.
Talking about the success of the 2018 £100m spend on improving prison security, HMP Leeds governor Steve Robson said the installation of a body scanner at his jail about a year ago had been “a real game changer”, as more than 300 items of contraband had since been detected.
Prisons and Probation Minister, Lucy Frazer MP, said the project was part of an overall spend of £2.75bn “to transform our prisons”.
“New technology is a vital part of our efforts to stop those determined to wreak havoc in our jails,” she said.
“These scanners will help to stem the flow of contraband into jails and allow officers to focus on rehabilitation.”
The installation at the 16 prisons will begin in the spring with all scanners expected to be in place by the summer, according to the MoJ.
With X-Ray Scanning being a specialism of Shape Services, we’re not surprised that the project is being met with a positive outcome. We are excited to see the technology continue to roll out in UK prisons and will report any future developments.