Norway likely to install breathing sensors in prisons cells to prevent suicides

Prison cellPhoto: Vegard Wivestad Grøtt / NTB

A unanimous Norwegian parliament (Storting) voted in favor of the government’s proposal to install breathing sensors in prison cells. The measure could prevent suicides.

On Tuesday, the bill will be considered for the second time in the Storting.

When the proposal was considered for the first time on Thursday last week, all representatives supported the proposal, according to which technical equipment such as breathing and movement sensors should be installed in inmates’ rooms to prevent suicides and other risks.

“Care and human contact will always be the most important thing to prevent suicide, but such sensors can be a positive supplement,” Minister of Justice and Emergency Management Monica Mæland (H) said when the government presented the proposal in September of last year.

An electronic breath and motion sensor can detect signs of danger and send an alarm to the guard room in prison. 

According to the proposal, sensors must be installed in rooms and not be connected to persons. In 2019, six people took their own lives in prison cells, four more than the year before.

Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews

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