Advanced videogame consoles ‐ a new and unrecognised threat to secure service provision? Available to Purchase

Games consoles are ubiquitous in the community, and increasingly in demand in secure forensic psychiatric settings. They contain a range of sophisticated technologies, which may pose a significant security risk, including provision for secure wireless communication, Internet access, playing and duplication of video and audio discs, and storage of large amounts of potentially worrying video and audio content. Staff awareness of this risk is limited by ignorance and the perception that games consoles are ‘toys’ for the use of children and adolescents. This paper highlights the risks related to specific machines and provides guidance on effective management of these risks.