Prison security will be boosted by a £100 million investment as part of a crackdown on crime behind bars, the government announced today (13 August 2019).

The investment will target all types of crime in prison; from drug smugglers fuelling a rise in violence and self-harm, to gang kingpins continuing to run their operations from jail, to offenders seeking to contact their victims in the outside world.

Tough airport-style security, including X-ray scanners and metal detectors, will be put into prisons across the estate to clamp down on the drugs, weapons and mobile phones that increase the risk to our officers and hinder rehabilitation.  

Cutting-edge technology to detect and block mobile phones will be brought in to better identify and stop those who seek to organise drug supply or harass victims from the prison wings.

The new funding will bolster efforts to tackle corruption, improving intelligence analysis and strengthening the Counter Corruption Unit that roots out the small minority of dishonest staff and the criminals who seek to manipulate them.

In combination with the 4,700 additional officers who have been recruited since late 2016, this investment can have a major impact on crime behind bars. Without phones and access to drugs, criminal networks will be severely hindered, prison officers will be protected, and ultimately the public will be safer. 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

We cannot allow our prisons to become factories for making bad people worse.

We will stop the drugs, weapons and the mobile phones coming in, so we can safeguard victims, protect staff, cut violence and make our prisons properly equipped to reform and rehabilitate.

The public must see justice being done, punishment being served and feel protected.

Secretary of State for Justice, Robert Buckland QC MP said:

There is a direct link between crime on the wings and crime on our streets – it can no longer be assumed that prison walls are enough to stop organised criminals from continuing their operations.

This funding will have a transformative effect on prisons and give our hard-working officers the advantage as they tackle this scourge head-on.

By disrupting those who continue to offend behind bars, we can keep our staff and other prisoners safe, and make sure that prisons truly fulfil their purpose of protecting the public.

All prisons across the estate will benefit from the measures, with airport-style security being concentrated in the closed estate.

The new security funding comes days after the Prime Minister announced a programme of up to £2.5 billion to create 10,000 additional prison places.

The £100 million is the latest in a series of significant investments to increase security and stability in prisons, including £70 million announced previously. The £70 million funded new security measures such as improved search teams, a digital categorisation tool to better manage offenders’ risk, and improvements to the physical security and safety of the prison estate. Further funding has been made in previous years to build intelligence capabilities, a Financial Investigations Unit and a Serious and Organised Crime Task Force.

This has come against a backdrop of rising prison officer numbers, with more than 4,700 now recruited since October 2016 and staffing levels at their highest since 2012.

Notes to editors

Further information on the Counter Corruption Unit, launched earlier this year, is available on GOV.UK.

Further information on the £2.5 billion prison capacity investment programme, is available on GOV.UK.

The Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister Charles Michel of Belgium this afternoon.

Prime Minister Johnson began by reiterating his commitment to strengthening the excellent bilateral relationship between the UK and Belgium, including in key areas such as security, trade and counterterrorism. He said that he looked forward to welcoming Prime Minister Michel for the NATO Leaders’ Meeting on 4 December.

On Brexit, Prime Minister Johnson set out that the existing deal has been rejected three times by Parliament and must change. He reiterated that the UK stands ready to negotiate an alternative to the backstop in good faith, but if the EU continue to insist on no changes to the Withdrawal Agreement then we will have to leave without a deal on the 31 October.

On citizens’ rights, Prime Minister Johnson thanked Prime Minister Michel for the positive approach of Belgium, which has legislation in place to protect the rights of UK nationals. He reiterated the UK’s commitment that the rights of the 3.2 million citizens, including Belgian citizens now living and working in the UK, are protected whatever the circumstances.

The leaders finished the call by discussing how the UK and Belgium will continue to have a close relationship and work together on the important issues that face our continent.

The Prime Minister joined a meeting at Downing Street today between senior officials and US National Security Adviser John Bolton.

They discussed the close UK-US trading relationship and our shared commitment to an ambitious free trade agreement once the UK leaves the EU.

They also spoke about Brexit and a range of other issues – including Iran, Hong Kong and 5G.

The Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister António Costa of Portugal this afternoon.

Prime Minister Johnson spoke about how Portugal is one of the UK’s oldest allies and both leaders agreed that they have a strong relationship to build on, including cooperation on defence, science and innovation.

On Brexit, Prime Minister Johnson set out that whilst we want to leave with a deal, it will require compromise from the EU to change the Withdrawal Agreement, which has been rejected by Parliament three times. He said that he will energetically pursue a deal, but any deal must abolish the backstop. Prime Minister Johnson also explained that the UK will continue to fully prepare to leave the EU on 31 October, whatever the circumstances.

Prime Minister Johnson also acknowledged the valuable contribution of Portuguese nationals who live in the UK and stressed that their rights will be protected after Brexit. He welcomed Portugal’s commitment to do the same for UK nationals living there.