Following incidents of jailbreaking reported from Central Prisons in the State, the Home Department has decided to enhance the security systems of the prisons by installing motion and touch sensors, among other such devices.
A committee comprising the principal secretary of the Home Department, state police chief and head of the Prisons Department filed a report on a jailbreaking incident reported in Poojappura Central Jail and recommended enhancing the security system of all jails across the State, for which the State government has given its nod.
The officials at the Prisons Department said that they are looking to deploy new technology to prevent instances of jailbreaking. “A proposal for installing advanced security systems like motion and touch sensors, automatic alarms, automatic door locking systems, body scanners and metal detectors has been given to the government. Regular maintenance of security cameras in jails would be conducted. Plans are afoot to install cameras capable of storing video footage for a month and systems for video-conferencing. Multi-coiled wire fences, and if required, electric fences would also be built. Defects of the current system would be rectified soon,” officials said.
One of the major hurdles before the Prisons Department is lack of funds to introduce new technology.
The department is looking for additional funds in this regard. L Radhakrishnan, principal secretary, Home and Vigilance, had recently ordered that most of the recommendations made by the committee be accepted, as per the directions of the Home Department.
List of vacancies
As per the order, the number of wardens would be increased. Jail superintendents have been ordered to come out with a list of vacancies which would be send to the PSC. Officials of each jail have been asked to rectify faulty latches and locks of cells.
Immediate action would be taken to demolish and reconstruct structures near compound walls.
Jail officials have been asked to strengthen patrolling in and around the prison and superintendents have been asked to conduct night checking. The prison staff would be given responsibilities on a rotational basis, for avoiding any nexus with prisoners, and jail officials would be restricted in regard to using mobile phones in the prison premises.
Agricultural tools, along with wood and bamboo sticks, would be kept away from jail inmates. To tackle emergency situations, a team comprising jail and police officials would be formed, the report added.