Security at Australia’s toughest prison will get even tighter with the introduction of phone jamming technology, Minister for Corrections David Elliott announced today.
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The state-of-the-art technology jams the phone signal and can stop it working within a certain boundary, and is by far the most effective method of preventing the use of contraband mobile phones.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has granted Corrective Services an exemption to the law which bans mobile phone jamming, so it can be trialed at Goulburn Correctional Centre, including the High Risk Management Unit known as Supermax.
ACMA permitted a trial of jamming technology at Lithgow Correctional Centre that began in 2013 and it is so far the only Australian prison to have mobile phone jamming.
Mr Elliott said Kordia Solutions have now signed a contract to deliver the technology and testing will commence in the coming months. The project will be monitored to prevent disruption to signals outside the prison.
“Mobile phones are an important commodity in prisons and possibly inmates organise criminal activities on the outside and also intimidate victims,” Mr Elliott said.
“The introduction of phone jamming is just one of many examples of how we are investing in the latest technologies to tackle the issue of contraband in our prisons.”
CSNSW Commissioner Peter Severin said phone jamming technology would complement other measures including phone detector poles, the BOSS chair and specially trained mobile detection dogs.
Pru Goward, Member for Goulburn said that she was very pleased to see new technologies being used at Goulburn Correctional Centre to reduce crime in prison.
“This new system will help keep our officers safe while at work, as well as protect the wider community – which will always be my number one priority,” Ms Goward said.
