The East Belfast MLA said, “I am grateful to the Director General of the Prison Service for a briefing on the roll out of these machines. They are long awaited and provide a significant tool in the fight against efforts to smuggle contraband into our prisons.
The scanners are already in use across other parts of the United Kingdom and they have also been recommended for use by the Criminal Justice Inspectorate. The announcement of their introduction here is welcome and it will bring us into line with good practice elsewhere. Their effectiveness in detecting contraband within prisons in England and Wales only serves to underscore their importance.
The scanners not only offer an alternative to the traditional body searches, but also can operate much more quickly. That brings benefits for both prisoners and the Prison Service.”