The U.K. prison system recently completed a trial of facial recognition technology and iris scanning to deter smugglers.

Using a combination of face and iris scanners and a system for scanning documents that can detect fakes, administrators at three different U.K. prisons (HMP Lindholme, Hull and Humber) trialed the technologies from December 2018 through January 2019 in an effort to reduce contraband such as drugs, weapons and mobile phones from coming into the prisons. According to administrators, the trial successfully deterred suspected smugglers from showing up for visits to at least one of the prisons during the trial period.

The U.K. prison system is currently experiencing a host of issues including lack of funding, deteriorating structures and fewer prison officials — problems that are amplified with the introduction of forbidden contraband. Experiencing an uptick in violent episodes each month, staff assaults, overall chaos and even murder, staff members are vacating their positions, leaving existing staff significantly outnumbered by inmates, according to reports. In addition to those issues are the current methods for checking visitors at the prisons, which are reportedly ineffective and time-consuming. Although some prisons do rely on fingerprint readers, the process for screening prison visitors is still largely paper-based.

While existing prison staff attempt to maintain control over the chaos, their efforts are challenged by the influx of outside contraband, which has prompted the biometrics trial.

"The machines highlight suspicious individuals, allowing staff to refuse entry and providing evidence that could be used in any subsequent Prison Service or police investigation," said Secretary of Justice David Gauke. "This will mean police and prison staff can better target the activity of those that seek to bring drugs into prison — disrupting their criminal networks."

Additionally, the technology is accessible to other prisons and can alert officials whenever a suspicious visitor attempts to visit a person incarcerated at another U.K. prison, according to reports.

However, the technology is not without its critics. According to privacy advocate Big Brother Watch's legal and policy officer Griff Ferris:

"Government seeking public approval for facial recognition cameras in low-rights environments such as prisons is a staggering move since we know it's also trying to introduce them as a general public surveillance tool," Ferris added. "We're quite surprised that the government is continuing to take such an experimental approach to human rights."

Facial recognition technology is a hot-button issue of late, spurring companies and privacy advocates to action and calling for its better regulation, the latest example of which was an open letter from a coalition urging Google, Amazon and Microsoft to not sell its facial recognition software to government officials.