Case Study: Northern Ireland Prison Service improves prisoner movement and rehabilitation with Sopra Steria’s biometric verification system

Northern Ireland Prison Service empowers 95% of inmates with Sopra Steria

The Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) faced a challenge in securely and efficiently verifying the identity and managing the movement of inmates across its high-security sites. Their manual, paper-based system for tracking appointments and locations was admin-heavy, required officers to physically escort prisoners, and lacked real-time data. Sopra Steria partnered with Lava Group to develop a bespoke identification and verification system for NIPS.

Sopra Steria implemented a solution that combined biometric fingerprint technology with a digital appointments system. This allowed inmates to independently move through secure turnstiles by scanning their contactless ID cards and fingerprints, freeing officers from escort duties. The solution provided NIPS with live, real-time data on prisoner locations and movements. As a result, Sopra Steria's system empowered 95% of inmates to move freely, reduced pressure on staff resources, and allowed officers to focus on rehabilitation priorities.

Northern Ireland Prison Service