Jailbreak Fears After Jail Blueprints Leaked on Dark Web | UK News

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Security cameras at HMP Wandsworth Prison on July 12, 2024 in London, England. The country's new justice minister, Shabana Mahmood, announced today that the government will release thousands of prisoners early to ease overcrowding. Under the new policy, prisoners on "standard sentences" will be released after serving 40% of their sentences, rather than 50%. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) — It has raised fears that they could be exploited by criminals who want to smuggle drugs or weapons into prisons or help prisoners who want to escape (Image: Getty)

A leak of detailed prison blueprints has triggered a security alert at prisons on the other side England and Wales.

The layouts of more than 20 prisons have been shared on the dark web and are said to include placement of cameras and sensors on perimeter fences.

That has raised fears that they could be exploited by criminals who want to smuggle drugs or weapons into prisons or help prisoners who want to escape.

The Ministry of Justice said “immediate measures” have been taken to ensure security throughout the prison.

Prison officials were informed via an internal email titled “security alert”, The Times reports.

It added that there was no intelligence indicating who was behind the data breach but staff were told: “We must not be complacent about this risk.”

File photo dated 16/10/13 of HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow. Almost 400 short-term prisoners could be released in the new year under Scottish Government plans to ease pressure on the country's prisons. Angela Constance announced in October that the government would seek to change the automatic release point for prisoners serving less than four years from the current 50% to 40%. Release date: Tuesday 19 November 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SCOTLAND Prisons. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire — The layouts of more than 20 prisons have been shared on the dark web (Image: PA)

Ian Acheson, a former prison governor, told the paper: “If plans for high-security prisons have been leaked, co-ordinating that with open source material or Google maps can help escape after an attack on the outside of the prison.

“Much more likely is using additional data to coordinate drone strikes. But if you can deliver half a kilo of drugs via a drone, you can deliver weapons, explosives, whatever.

“These places are wide open.”

He added: ‘The dark web is a marketplace for criminals and terrorists.

“Detailed maps of our most secure institutions that pose a huge risk to national security and organized crime should never end up as commodities for sale online.”

A senior prison service source told The Times that the plans “just show how things are at a certain point”, adding that “we can change them to make sure security is in place”.

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.’

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