A HIGH-SECURITY prison in the North-East is to become the first in the country to install advanced control room facilities.

Frankland Jail, on the outskirts of Durham City, will inaugurate Concept 2000, being introduced by the Prison Service nationally to ransform control rooms, the nerve centres of high security jails.

Control rooms have been enhanced in recent years, and now contain a wide range of sophisticated security systems.

But Concept 2000 takes it a step further with advanced technology, while also improving the environment for staff.

It will be linked to the National Operations Unit command suite at Prison Service headquarters.

Prison Service security director Brodie Clark gave details of the new system yesterday, when he confirmed that it would be installed first at Frankland.

Mr Clark said that protecting the public and securing the safety of its staff and inmates is one of the primary duties of the Prison Service.

He said: "This new system will allow the application of best practice across the high security estate, with the ability to monitor and improve existing performance.

"It will also improve the working conditions and job quality of control room staff, allowing faster and more accurate implementation of contingency plans in any incident.

"In the event of a serious incident the National Operations Unit, based at headquarters, will be able to maintain close visual links with establishments by having access to all the latest information and images at their fingertips."

Mr Clark said he is sure the system will boost prisons' security and safety, as well as proving more efficient.