Norwich Prison at the forefront for new investment to tackle crime

Norwich Prison will be at the forefront of efforts to stop prisoners smuggling in drugs, mobile phones and weapons after being selected to receive tough new security measures.

Norwich prison is one of 16 in the country to receive an innovative new x-ray body scanner, producing instant images from inside the human body including internally concealed contraband.

The equipment is being funded by the Government’s £2.75 billion commitment to transform the prison estate. This includes:

• £100 million to bolster prison security, clamping down on the weapons, drugs and mobile phones that fuel violence, self-harm and crime behind bars
• £2.5 billion to provide 10,000 additional prison places and create modern, efficient jails that rehabilitate offenders, reduce reoffending and keep the public safe
• £156 million to tackle the most pressing maintenance issues to create safe and decent conditions for offender rehabilitation.

The package will also fund new measures to tackle drugs and violence in prisons including x-ray baggage scanners and metal detection equipment, phone-blocking technology and a new digital forensics facility.

The MP for Norwich North, Chloe Smith, said “I am pleased to see the new scanner heading to Norwich to help tackle crime in the prison and make it a safer place for prisoners and the staff working there”.

Chloe added: “We want our prisons to be places to help rehabilitate offenders and that means ridding them of crime. These scanners will help do that, so that’s positive news for Norwich".