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Welcome to the EuroPris Knowledge Management System. The table below shows questions and responses from European National Agencies. Select a question for more information or use the filters on the left to narrow down questions based on Agency or Category.
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Introduction: The Operational Security Procedures Unit in Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) for England & Wales are currently looking into key chain specifications. The focus is the key chains that prison officers are supplied with – in particular to consider whether these should break when pulled. We would like to find out what the design and procedure is like in other countries and would be grateful if you could provide the following information.
no
If yes, what part of them break? Is it the key chain itself or the attachment to the belt?Our key chains are not designed to break. The purpose of the chains is to prevent prisoners from stealing keys unintentionally. However, they only withstand certain tensile loads. They break with great physical strength. If the key chain breaks, then the chain itself rips.
If no, what is the reason for this and do you have any concerns about the key holder being captured by their chain?Such problems have not yet existed. The chain is too short to tie or hold key holders.
Have you had any incidents where prisoners have got hold of the keys?No, there have been no such incidents since about 20 years.
no
If yes, what part of them break? Is it the key chain itself or the attachment to the belt? If no, what is the reason for this and do you have any concerns about the key holder being captured by their chain?It is not considered a security issue. The key holder is attached to the uniform trousers with a clip that can be released using one hand. There are no known episodes where an employee has been at risk because of the keychain.
Have you had any incidents where prisoners have got hold of the keys?Yes - there are a few cases where employees have handed over keys under duress and also a few cases where employees have mislaid their keys, fortunately it has very rarely meant that inmates have gotten hold of the keys.
no
If yes, what part of them break? Is it the key chain itself or the attachment to the belt? If no, what is the reason for this and do you have any concerns about the key holder being captured by their chain?No, we have not experienced that problem.
Have you had any incidents where prisoners have got hold of the keys?Yes, it has happened. But not when it is properly fixed in the belt.
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no
If yes, what part of them break? Is it the key chain itself or the attachment to the belt?No (Answer 1)
If no, what is the reason for this and do you have any concerns about the key holder being captured by their chain?Avoiding the loss of a key.
Have you had any incidents where prisoners have got hold of the keys?No
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
no
If yes, what part of them break? Is it the key chain itself or the attachment to the belt?Please see the answer below.
If no, what is the reason for this and do you have any concerns about the key holder being captured by their chain?Officers of imprisonment places do not use key chains during their duties in imprisonment places. To carry out their duties officers of imprisonment places use special and technical means equipment belts with accoutrements, including: 1) special attachment belt; 2) hand cuff holster; 3) gas canister holster; 4) flashlight holster; 5) key holder; 6) glove bag; 7) baton holster; 8) radio holster. Key holder is made of a material that keeps its size regardless of contact with water or any other harsh environment. Key holder is light, durable and equipped with push-button closure.
Have you had any incidents where prisoners have got hold of the keys?No, there have been no incidents where prisoners have got hold of the keys.
no
If yes, what part of them break? Is it the key chain itself or the attachment to the belt? If no, what is the reason for this and do you have any concerns about the key holder being captured by their chain?In the Croatian prison system, key manipulation differs from the system implemented in the United Kingdom prison system. In accordance with the Regulation on the uniforms of civil servants of the Department of Insurance in Prisons, Prisons and Educational Offices and formal uniforms, one of the basic parts of the suit is, inter alia, a weapon carrying kit which also includes a case for binding devices. In that case, keys for binding (handcuffs) are kept most often along with other keys that the security officers carry with them.
Have you had any incidents where prisoners have got hold of the keys?No
no
If yes, what part of them break? Is it the key chain itself or the attachment to the belt?Our administration does not have a keychain model for the staff. We try to minimize the number of necessary keys and usually these are carried in their pockets.
If no, what is the reason for this and do you have any concerns about the key holder being captured by their chain?The spaces considered security, usually have automated closure and opening systems and under direct control or CTTV. The possibility of a civil servant being attacked to remove the keys exists but over the years has not been materialized. The main reason is that ours is a system with many hours of direct coexistence (the inmates interact continuously and can see each other), security accesses are automatic and monitored directly, therefore the keys available to the staff do not facilitate the access to the outside, and finally, the departments where the most dangerous inmates are located and who have less hours of coexistence are those that are equipped with a higher rate of personnel and with more security measures.
Have you had any incidents where prisoners have got hold of the keys?No
no
If yes, what part of them break? Is it the key chain itself or the attachment to the belt?/
If no, what is the reason for this and do you have any concerns about the key holder being captured by their chain?We think the reason is in its design. The key chain clamp is made of two layers of glued, tanned, leather-covered bovine leather, hydrophobic, with a smooth face, by processing box, in black. Length of the open guide is 200 mm and 28 mm width, clamping is double with metal clamps of Ø 15mm, galvanic treatment of copper patina, colour c-22. The carabiner is equipped with a steel spring, wire Ø 3.8, spring strip 4 x 0.8, colour electroplated copper patina c - 97 The edges of the carrier are sanded and made in leather colour.
Have you had any incidents where prisoners have got hold of the keys?Until today we did not have any incidents where prisoners have got hold of the keys.
no
If yes, what part of them break? Is it the key chain itself or the attachment to the belt?N/A
If no, what is the reason for this and do you have any concerns about the key holder being captured by their chain?Since there have been no problems, the issue has not been widely considered.
Have you had any incidents where prisoners have got hold of the keys?Not in the recent past.
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