Prison Service ponders UK-wide intranet

HM Prison Service has begun an informal investigation into the use of intranets in UK prisons.

Granting inmates access to electronic communications had previously been considered too much of a security risk to a prison service that has only recently stopped censoring letters. However, officials last week met with Juergen Hillmer, who is piloting a similar scheme in Germany, with funding from EU employment committee, Integra.

Hillmer's Telis scheme links local prisons to the University of Bremner over a secure connection, allowing inmates to learn the CAD software skills required for employment in the metalworking industry.

HM Prison Service confirmed the meeting had taken place but would not give further details at this point.