Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jack Rankin and David Lammy

Tuesday 16th September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Jack Rankin (Windsor) (Con)]

4. What steps he is taking to improve the safety of the prison estate.

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr David Lammy)]

The safety of our prison staff is a No. 1 priority for me. That is why we are investing £40 million to stop the contraband that puts our hard-working staff particularly at risk. We are also rolling out protective body armour for use in the highest security units and trialling the use of Tasers for specialised staff.

[Jack Rankin]

Thousands of drones are being used to smuggle contraband such as weapons and drugs into prisons. Locally, I have met leading security company Preventive Concepts Security. The shadow Lord Chancellor was good enough to visit it in France to see its technology in action, detecting and disabling drones. What specific steps is the Department taking to roll out drone detection capabilities across the prison estate? Is it currently engaging directly with private stakeholders such as Preventive Concepts Security?

[Mr Lammy]

I did see that the shadow Lord Chancellor had visited France. I looked seriously and closely at what he was proposing, and I propose to make some announcements in that area over the coming weeks.