GROUND-BREAKING scanning technology invented by a Malvern company which detects illicit materials in UK jails should be used on a more wider scale – West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has said.
The MP has written to justice minister Andrew Selous urging him to recommend more use of Cellsense Plus, a pole-shaped detection device created by Metrasens located at Enigma Business Park.
Recent media reports have highlighted the increasing problems of contraband getting into prisons and Mrs Baldwin agreed to write to the Ministry of Justice chiefs on behalf of the company.
The ground-breaking technology uses ferromagnetic detection which senses when an object moves nearby, to find hidden contraband.
Many weapons and electronic devices contain ferrous metals such as iron, steel or other less common metals.
When an individual is far enough away from the scanner, the beacon at the top of the structure remains green, but when the device detects a ferrous metal object as the person enters its proximity, the beacon transitions from amber to red.
The device can also screen mail, laundry, mattresses and other inmate property.
It has already been trialled in more than 40 prisons in the UK as well as being used in half of state prisons in the United States and a further 30 countries worldwide.
Mrs Baldwin said: “I have seen demonstrations of the Metrasens detection technology and have been highly impressed by the quality of its product.
“The worrying media reports highlight the increasing issues of lawlessness in our prisons and Metrasens has asked me to make the point to the Ministry of Justice that it already has access to proven technology.
“There is clear evidence that the technology works very well from across the globe and I would hope that more use could be made of the Metrasens system to mitigate this serious problem in our jails.”
Simon Goodyear, co-founder and chief executive of Metrasens, added: “The excellent feedback we’ve received from the early UK prison deployments of Cellsense mirrors that we’ve seen in hundreds of US jails.
“The product quickly makes a significant and cost-effective contribution to the battle against contraband.
“We’re looking forward to expanding the UK deployment and to enable prison security to fully benefit from this UK-developed technology.”
