Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Crime in Prisons

Tuesday 18 May 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • 100 million has been invested to reduce crime in prisons by enhancing security measures.
  • Security enhancements include 176 search dogs, 300 metal detection archways and wands, and 51 X-ray body scanners.
  • Guidance has been developed for managing trespassers and reporting evidence to the police.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andy Carter
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The issue of reducing crime within the prison system is a key concern, especially regarding illegal contraband such as weapons and drugs.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to reduce crime in prisons. The Minister highlighted that many crimes are related to illegal items entering the prison, posing serious security risks and affecting staff resilience against corruption.

Answer from Alex Chalk

Reducing crime in prisons is a key priority. £100 million has been invested for bolstering security and clamping down on contraband including weapons, drugs and mobile phones. This includes purchasing security items like 176 search dogs, 300 metal detection archways and wands, mobile phone detection technology and 51 X-ray body scanners.

Answered
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Q2 Andy Carter
Crime & Law Enforcement Community Security
Context

Residents near Thorn Cross Prison have reported concerns about daylight drops of contraband in their gardens, affecting the welfare of children playing there.

Question

Could the Minister tell me what steps he is taking and what residents can do to address that real concern, particularly where children are playing in gardens and their parents are concerned for their welfare? The question highlights specific security risks and community concerns.

Answer from Alex Chalk

£100 million investment includes 176 search dogs, 300 metal detection archways and wands, mobile phone detection technology and 51 X-ray body scanners. Guidance on managing trespassers within the open estate has been developed with protocols for reporting evidence to the police.

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