IMPLICATIONS The level of security which is necessary will vary according to the threat of escape posed by individual prisoners. Some prisoners would present a high degree of risk to public safety if they were to escape. For these prisoners, escape must be made extremely difficult, if not impossible. Such prisoners will be held in high-security prisons. Some prisoners would present no threat to public safety if they were to escape. They should be held in low-security prisons. The majority of prisoners stand between these two groups. Their escape would pose a limited degree of risk to the public. They need to be held in conditions of medium security. If the general security of a prison is at medium level but it is required to hold prisoners whose escape would present a grave threat to the public, those individuals may be subjected to particular security requirements. These may include: - The type of accommodation in which they are held; - The arrangements made whenever they move about inside the prison or have to be escorted outside the prison. The concept of security involves much more than physical barriers to escape. Security also depends on an alert staff who interact with prisoners, who have an awareness of what is going on in the prison and who ensure that prisoners are kept active in a positive way. This is often described as "dynamic security". An officer in a watchtower on the perimeter is likely to see an escape attempt only after it has begun. An officer who works closely with prisoners and knows what they are doing will be much more aware of possible threats to security before they occur. Dynamic security is not just about preventing prisoners from escaping. It is also about maintaining good relationships with prisoners and being aware of their moods and temperament. PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS ■ Individual prisoners should be assessed in respect of: - The degree of threat which they would present to the public if they were to escape; - The likelihood that they may attempt to escape; - The external resources on which they can call to help them to escape. ■ Prisoners should be held at the lowest appropriate level of security. ■ Staff should be taught that security is not merely a matter of walls, fences and electronic surveillance. ■ Security is strengthened when staff know the prisoners for whom they are responsible and mix with them on a daily basis. 86