Monitoring inadequate in prison

Prisons lack the equipment and resources to monitor communications efficiently and effectively, especially when many inmates pose risks to children and members of the public, the Interception of Communications commissioner said.

Sir Paul Kennedy added that inspectors also found an alarming number of category B prisons had a "very limited capacity to monitor prisoners who pose a real threat to good order and security".

He said the systematic failings in monitoring communications could "potentially place children, vulnerable prisoners, members of the public and prison staff in harm's way".

"Managers have been warned that they could then find themselves in an indefensible position," he said.

Inspectors found "very serious weaknesses and failings" in 24 of the 88 prisons inspected in England and Wales last year, with a further 19 prisons faring only "a little better".