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<p>The Ministry of Justice continues to focus on the use technology to disrupt the
supply of drugs, mobile phones and other illicit items into prisons, including through
assessing the provision of equipment across the prison estate.</p><p> </p><p>Following
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons report published on 11 October 2022, HMP/YOI
Parc have worked towards implementing the recommendations identified in the action
plan, with a successful bid submitted via G4S for an additional itemiser and X-Ray
body scanner.</p><p> </p><p>Across the wider estate our £100 million Security Investment
Programme, aimed at reducing crime in prisons, completed in March 2022. It included
funding to reduce smuggling of illicit items, including drugs, and our measures are
producing results.</p><p> </p><p>This investment delivered 75 additional X-ray body
scanners, resulting in full coverage across the closed adult male estate. As of October
2023, we had recorded over 46,900 positive indications, helping tackle the supply
of drugs into prisons.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, in January of this year we introduced
new 400 metre Restricted Fly Zones around all closed prisons and young offender institutions
in England and Wales. This makes it easier for prison staff and the police to identify
illicit drones and take action to disrupt them, intercept any contraband and pursue
prosecution.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2016, HMPPS has helped the police secure more than
75 convictions from criminal drone activity around prisons. Those convicted have been
sentenced to a combined total of over 265 years behind bars.</p><p>HMPPS is working
hard to conduct assessments all across the prison estate to implement a range of physical
upgrades and countermeasures to prevent drones from reaching their target destinations.</p>
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