Prison layouts reportedly leaked on dark web in data breach

pThe Ministry of Justice has said it is aware of a data breach affecting prisons in England and WalesppConfidential prison layouts had been leaked onto the dark web in the past two weeks according to The TimesppA former prison governor told the paper organised crime groups could potentially use the information to smuggle drugs or weapons into prisons or plan escapesppThe MoJ said that it had taken immediate action to ensure prisons remain secureppThe Times reported prison authorities suspect that the leak may be linked to organised crime groups aiming to use drones to smuggle drug into prisons while the blueprints could be used to evade security measuresppThe leaked blueprints are reported to include the locations of key security features such as cameras and sensors making it easier for criminals to bypass security or exploit vulnerabilitiesppIt is not clear which prison plans were affectedppThe Cabinet Office and the Prison Service are said to be working to identify the source of the breach and assess who might benefit from the information ppThe National Crime Agency told the BBC it was providing support in an advisory capacity but it would be incorrect to say it was investigating the incidentppA MoJ spokesman said We are not going to comment on the specific detail of security matters of this kind but we are aware of a breach of data to the prison estate and like with all potential breaches have taken immediate action to ensure prisons remain secure ppThe leak was first flagged in an internal alert issued earlier this month seen by the paperppCCTV footage shows the food truck that Daniel Khalife used to escape leaving prisonppA prison spokesperson says HMP The Mount near Hemel Hempstead has improved its drug strategyppInspectors found high quality prison accommodation at HMP Grampian was underutilised despite overcrowding elsewhereppMost prisoners serving less than four years will now be released after serving 40 of their sentence rather than 50ppSecurity in prisons is being compromised HM Chief Inspector of Prisons says ppCopyright 2024 BBC All rights reserved  The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites Read about our approach to external linkingpp p