The Ministry of Justice says it is aware of a data breach affecting prisons in England and Wales.

Confidential prison plans leaked on dark web in past two weeks, says The times.

A former prison governor told the newspaper that organized crime groups could potentially use the information to smuggle drugs or weapons into prisons, or plan escapes.

The Justice Department said it had “taken immediate action to ensure prison security.”

The Times reported that prison authorities suspect the leak could be linked to organized crime groups aiming to use drones to smuggle drugs into prisons, while the plans could be used to evade security measures.

The leaked plans reportedly include the location of key security elements, such as cameras and sensors, making it easier for criminals to bypass security or exploit vulnerabilities.

It is unclear which prison projects were affected.

The Cabinet Office and Prison Service would work to identify the source of the breach and assess who might benefit from the information.

The National Crime Agency told the BBC it was providing support in an advisory capacity, but it would be “incorrect” to say it was investigating the incident.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “We are not going to comment on the specific details of security matters of this type, but we are aware of a prison data breach and, as with all potential violations, we have taken immediate action to ensure that prisons remain intact. secure.”

The leak was first reported in an internal alert published earlier this month and seen by the newspaper.