16/09/2024
“(…) Considering prison administration as critical entities and prisons as critical infrastructures also aligns with the broader EU goal of harmonising security standards across member states. The disparity in the security protocols and conditions of detention facilities across Europe is marked. Recognising these facilities as critical infrastructure will necessitate a baseline of resilience that all member states must achieve, thereby elevating security throughout the EU. Investing in the resilience of prison systems is cost-effective. Enhanced security technologies, more effective training for prison staff, better prison intelligence, and the use of evidence-based rehabilitation and desistance approaches, reduces the likelihood of incidents that require expensive emergency responses.
Considering prisons administrations as critical entities and the strategic inclusion of prisons in Europe’s list of critical infrastructures is not merely an administrative adjustment. It is a necessary evolution in our approach to national and continental security. As we witness the complex interplay of organised crime, radicalisation, extremism, and terrorism in the 21st century, our resilience strategies must adapt. By strengthening these institutions against the manifold threats they face, we not only enhance their capacity to function effectively but also safeguard society at large from the cascading effects of their potential failure.
Where does your prison service stand in the overall discussion on the definition of critical entities and critical infrastructures?
The time to act is now, ensuring that resilience in the face of evolving threats remains robust and responsive to the needs of a secure, stable Europe.”
Read my article at the JUSTICE TRENDS Magazine on this topic and let me know your views on it.
Highlighting the necessity of including prisons in the EU’s list of critical infrastructures.
