“Swift measures” are being implemented following the unauthorized dissemination of jail blueprints online, as stated by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
According to The Times, detailed maps showing the configurations of prisons in England and Wales have appeared on the dark web within the last two weeks.
The disclosed information allegedly reveals the positions of surveillance cameras and sensors, raising alarms that it could facilitate the trafficking of narcotics or firearms into correctional facilities or assist inmates in orchestrating escapes.
Security personnel are actively investigating the origin of the leak and evaluating who may benefit from this confidential information.
The MoJ has not revealed which specific prisons were compromised in this incident.
A representative from the government remarked in a statement: “We will refrain from discussing the particulars of security issues of this nature, however, we acknowledge a data breach within the prison system and, as with all potential breaches, have taken swift action to guarantee the continued safety of our prisons.”
This breach occurs amidst a severe overcrowding crisis in prisons, which has resulted in the implementation of early release programs and the reassessment of security classifications for certain offenders to alleviate the strain on capacity.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is initiating a review of sentencing in an effort to address this crisis.
