An overhaul of the prison service’s security requirements is under review following the attempted suicide bid of Soham murder suspect, Ian Huntley, reports Dave Denver, the HM Prisons Regional Account Manager for installer ADT.
Huntley was discovered suffering a fit on the floor of his Milton Keynes cell at Woodhill Prison, in June. Mr Goggins’ summary of the report revealed a completely unacceptable situation. As a result, H.M. Prison Service, in conjunction with various private bodies, has ordered a review of the security requirements of its 73,000 plus inmates. Some 15 recommendations have been made that highlight a review of the jail’s cell search strategy and an independent review of security intelligence in the jail, including CCTV.
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David Denver, National Accounts Manage for ADT Fire and Security, says: "Security companies have been looking to strengthen ties with the country’s prisons for a number of years. While many modern facilities boast some of the most up-to-date security facilities many others suffer from ageing systems and a lack of funding. In addition to upgrading the technological security provision in our country’s prisons, it is essential that prisons finish off the work to their security systems, ensuring that all CCTV and alarm information records with verification so that dates and times are available ensuring that incidents can be correctly assessed, acted upon and prevented in the future. It is simple to do and would have meant that guards were actually more aware of the need to watch Ian Huntley every minute of every day."
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Safe, secure
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Cell Call Systems use technology to provide a safer environment for prisons, call units are installed in each cell, all calls are monitored and logged for time, date, location, and alarms are activated within the given time. These units can also provide cell lighting and TV connections. The Safe Cell system goes one stage further, to non-intrusively monitor prisoners. For those prisoners deemed at risk, such as Ian Huntley or those suffering additional stress as their trial date nears, a communications unit is fitted to the inside and outside of the cell and is connected to a central panel in the officer’s headquarters, allowing unrestricted and safe monitoring of the inmates. However, staff shortages can evidently reduce the effectiveness of this sophisticated equipment, as mechanical technology needs to be accompanied with human skill. The key to the Safe Cell is that the camera monitors every movement of the prisoner ‘ so any issues cannot be ignored, they must be acted upon. As the camera is in the room with the prisoner rather than the guard, for 24hours a day, it is also additional security for the employee as well as the prisoner.
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Audio use
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In addition to the cell call system, the use of audio equipment is on the increase, albeit primarily in private prisons where sound activity in cells can be monitored. It also serves as a communication device; two-way conversations can be conducted, allowing officers to assess the inmate prior to entering the cell. David says: "There are a vast range of technological security solutions that can provide enhanced security in correctional facilities. What is interesting when dealing with prison security is that where as technological advances in the outside world are often muted as making the security guard almost redundant, in the prison environment the technology can make running the prison more efficient and is also required to protect the guard themselves."
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The results of a study by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies highlight that although successful escapes from prisons have fallen, it is the security within the prison walls that is cause for most concern, especially that of the safety of prison wardens and prisoners themselves. In fact, the numbers of incidents against officers is continuing to grow. This issue becomes all the more difficult when trying to meet the prison service’s key objectives. The first objective is to hold prisoners in a safe, decent and healthy environment and the second is to reduce crime by providing constructive regimes. This can often cause tensions between the conflicting objectives of security and rehabilitation. Essentially rehabilitation means moving prisoners around the prison, which in essence can increase the risk of assault, drug dealing and attempted escapes. CCTV, fire alarms, general alarms and automatically monitored key systems can all help to make these objectives obtainable, especially when all of the systems are integrated so that all emergency alarms can be recorded, even with multiple activation. The monitored key systems actively link into PC graphics so that every time a door is opened and shut it is highlighted ‘ making sure adjacent and unsecured doors are a thing of the past.
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So as the increased movement of prisoners becomes a necessity, more prison managers are pushing for further investment into technology as the solution. In some UK prisons, such as Rye Hill, there are almost five prisoners to one warden. As such, additional resources are required to assist in effective management and control, especially as interaction with prisoners is now a more daunting experience. CCTV is welcomed and investment into systems is on the increase, especially in PFI facilities. As a rule, PFI prisons have fared well in terms of security innovations. In a recent study, ‘The Operational Performance of PFI Prisons’ published earlier this year, PFI establishments are highlighted as succeeding in the combination of reduced staff numbers and the increased movement of prisoners through their security innovations, with CCTV and modern radio communications systems being cited as positive investments. However, it remains more difficult to incorporate such innovations into older public sector prisons, mainly due to their design. For example, CCTV operates most cost efficiently in wide spaces and long corridors, whereas Victorian prisons have short corridors with poor lines of site as they were designed when the movement of prisoners was not a priority or even necessity. This is when experts, such as ADT, are called upon to survey a site and design a layout that provides an effective solution for a difficult environment.
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Visiting rights
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At the heart of the prison service is the Home Office’s mission statement of "Building a safe, just and tolerant society", which brings security into the equation. However, this must be balanced by the rising importance of human rights, where the most relevant is the right to privacy. The privacy of prison visitors is a major controversial area surrounding prison security. There has been an increasing trend of visitor numbers dwindling due to heightened security searches. This in itself has a detrimental effect on offenders’ rehabilitation, as prisoners are six times less likely to re-offend if they preserve regular contact with their family. The risk of drug smuggling by visitors is a real justification for keeping strict security measures in place. However, there appears to be a mutual compromise developing. The introduction of CCTV Visitor Centres, usually located outside the prison gates, allow visitors to prepare themselves before they enter the prison. Although the centre’s main function is to offer individuals who may have travelled a long distance an area in which to relax, it also acts as a form of security. It utilises general CCTV equipment and subtly provides information on the penalties of drug smuggling, by displaying press coverage and leaflets. As a result many illegal items are left at the centre and do not corrupt the world inside the walls.
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No escape
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One positive effect brought on by the implementation of revolutionary systems is the falling number of successful escapes. The technology now exists to sound an alarm if a wire around the perimeter fence is crossed. In addition to the alarm, microphones actively pick up sound from the area and integrated CCTV cameras automatically remove to the spot to record. RCD systems are also present around prison perimeters and outside cells. This prevents prisoners from tampering with the supply of electricity for personal purposes and as a means of escaping. General consensus surrounds the urgent need to update security systems in correctional facilities in terms of prisoner, staff and visitor safety, and for the rehabilitation of offenders. Effective security measures can help meet these goals and work towards a "just and tolerant society". The key requirement for prisons of today is for staff to push for security upgrades in antiquated prisons and for verification of all systems to be completed. This combined with digital CCTV technology means that ever camera will record ‘ not just the one being monitored and all alarms and cameras record incidents, times and dates so that incidents can be resolved and visitors, staff and prisoners are aware that all eyes are on them.
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Make sure
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Tagging of prisoners is an issue that has been widely publicised, with much controversy. The failure rate has to date been less than five percent and those prisoners recalled to prison were mostly for breach of curfew rather than committing new crimes. Yet, to date tagging has only been used as a method of decreasing the congestion problem in the UK’s jails. Yet electronic tagging is advancing and with the onset of Auto-ID it could be the new security provision for open prisons. In C category prisons problems are numerous as prisoners have much more freedom to move ‘causing many more security breaches and incidents. For problem prisoners tagging could be the answer – enabling prison staff to watch and regulate movement, especially near perimeters or prohibited areas.
