Process evaluation of the Security Investment Programme (SIP)

About the study

The Security Investment Programme has three key objectives:

• To reduce the conveyance of illicit items into prisons via the Gate, Reception and post.
• To stop mobile devices working and/or detect and retrieve devices.
• To strengthen staff resilience to corruption.

The purpose of this process evaluation was to better understand how SIP has been delivered, whether it has been delivered as intended and to identify factors which may have helped or hindered its effectiveness.

Findings

Overall, the findings show positive perceived impacts of SIP, including the detection and deterrence of illicit items, and improvements in feelings of safety and wellbeing among staff and prisoners. However, for the impacts of SIP to be fully realised, barriers to implementation need to be addressed. This includes:

• Ensuring commitment to investing in security measures is sustained.
• Building effective relationship with establishments early in implementation to aid consultation and delivery.
• Addressing staff shortages to ensure necessary resource is available for implementation.
• Encourage ex-operational staff who understand the complexity and variation between prisons are involved in the deployment of security interventions.
• Ensuring a balance between a focus on rehabilitation measures alongside strengthening security.

Methodology

The methodology for this project included:  

• A scoping review, including desk research and qualitative interviews and focus groups with national and regional SIP strategic leads, stakeholders and partners.
• Qualitative case study research in 12 closed male prisons. This included interviews and focus groups with prison leadership, operational staff, and prisoners, as well as in-person observations of key SIP activities.
• A survey of prison staff working in 20 prisons, including those working within the 12 case study prisons. This survey focused on the counter-corruption measures implemented as part of SIP.