Prisoners’ drug and weapon smuggling is target of new jail scanner programme

AIRPORT-STYLE scanners are to be introduced in prisons to stop smuggling of drugs, phones and weapons.

The move follows trials which saw positive drug tests fall by half.

The scanners, which cost £80,000 apiece and can see inside the human body to spot hidden contraband, are part of a £100million programme by the Ministry of Justice aimed at reversing soaring drug use and violence in jails.

Violence in drug-ridden jails is at record levels with assaults on staff up by 10 per cent.

The scanners will be introduced at 16 jails by the summer with the ultimate aim to install them in 70, more than half the prison estate.

The scanners were initially tested at 10 jails targeted by Rory Stewart, the former prisons minister. They contributed to positive drug tests halving from 26.5 per cent to 13.4 per cent.

Lucy Frazer, the prisons minister, said: “These scanners will help to stem the flow of contraband into jails and allow officers to focus on rehabilitation.”

Steve Robson, governor at Leeds prison, which already has a scanner, said: “It has been a real game-changer. In the year it has been in operation, it has found over 300 items of contraband, with prisoners finding drugs harder to come by at Leeds.”

Mark Fairhurst, chair of the Prison Officers Association, welcomed the move but urged ministers to introduce them in all jails, increase dog search teams and employ extra search staff.

The first prisons are Exeter, Durham, Preston, Liverpool, Birmingham, Hewell, Lincoln, Bedford, Norwich, Chelmsford, Winchester, Elmley, Pentonville, Wandsworth, Bristol and Cardiff.