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Written question asked by Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party) on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 12 November 2025 (named day). It was answered by Jake Richards (Labour) on Wednesday, 12 November 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.


Prisons: Security

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department has taken to improve its search procedures, in the context of the research and analysis entitled Security Investment Programme Evaluation, published by his Department on 5 September 2024.

Answer

A full evaluation of the £100 Security Investment Programme, aimed to reduce crime in prison including reducing smuggling of drugs, was published on 5 September 2024 and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/security-investment-programme-evaluation.

Airport-style enhanced gate security, comprising of metal detectors and X-ray baggage scanners, is used in 54 high-risk prison sites (both private and public sector), enabling routine searching of prison officers. In addition, local security strategies allow for routine and random rub-down searches of prison officers and other staff upon entry to, or within, prisons.

This year, we are investing over £40 million in physical security across 34 prisons to further prevent contraband entering prisons.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
88203
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Prisons Security
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk