Immediate action has been taken to ensure security across prisons in England and Wales, the Ministry of Justice has said, after it emerged that blueprints of prisons had been leaked online.

The government said it was aware of a data breach following a report in the Times that detailed prison layouts had been shared on the dark web over the past two weeks.

A former prison governor told the newspaper that organized crime groups could use the information to smuggle drugs or weapons into the compound, or plan escapes.

The blueprints are said to include the placement of cameras and sensors, with security officials now working to identify the source of the leak and who could benefit from the details.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “We will not comment on the specifics of security matters of this nature, but we are aware of a data breach on prison property and, as with any potential breach, have taken immediate action to ensure the prisons remain secure.”