About Us

Unilink was founded by Francis Toye, establishing a mission to deliver innovative technology for justice and custodial services.

• Launch of the Detainee Management System for UK Detention Services (UKDS).
• Development of the Offender Management Solution for UKDS (now Sodexo) prisons.
• Introduction of the Biometric Visits Management System and deployment of the biometric visits system across all UK High Security prisons (2005).

• Winner of the IFSEC Most Innovative New Security Product Award for the Biometric Visits Management System (2006).
• Launch of SafetyNet, a case management platform for multi-agency collaboration, first deployed at Hampshire Constabulary.
• Introduction of the UK’s first Prisoner Self-Service system in Serco-operated prisons, using custom-built biometric kiosks (2007)
• Broadmoor Secure Hospital implements Unilink’s biometric visits system (2008).
• First international self-service deployment in Serco prisons in Australia and New Zealand (2009 - 2011).
• First public-sector prison deployment of self-service at HMPYOI Isis (2010).
• Deployment of the system in G4S-operated prisons.

• TechUK Software Innovation Award for Prisoner Self-Service.
• Acquisition of Email a Prisoner, the UK’s first digital messaging service for prisons, and launch of the messaging service in the Netherlands.
• Introduction of Secure Payment Services in the UK.
• Development of the first biometric probation self-reporting application, piloted with London Probation Trust and extension for Community Payback Attendance and Reporting at Greater Manchester Probation Trust.
• Deployment of the first in-cell prisoner self-service system at HMP Thameside (2012).
• First self-service deployment in Europe at a G4S operated immigration centre in Austria (2013).

• Establishment of Unilink Group and Unilink Software Australia (2014).
• Acquisition of Acante Solutions, adding kiosk hardware capabilities (2014).
• Winning the South Australia Department of Corrections contract to deliver statewide prisoner self-service, prison retail, and electronic visits booking (2015).
• First deployment of EMAP and Secure Payment in Serco operated prison in Western Australia, followed by Geo operated prison in Victoria (2015)
• Winner of Overall UK Digital Leader and Best Citizen Services App awards for Email a Prisoner (2015).
• Opening of offices in Adelaide (2016).
• First deployment of self-service on in-cell devices, HM Prison & Probation Service Digital Prisons Programme (2016).
• Recipient of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise – Innovation (2016).

• First deployment of prisoner self-service hosted within the Ministry of Justice Azure cloud.
• Publication of a University of York study examining the impact of digital technology on prisoner behaviour and reoffending, based on Unilink’s CMS self-service (2017).
• Opening of a Netherlands subsidiary (2018).
• Winning a contract with Sopra Steria for a biometric Visa registration kiosk and software for the UK Visas and Immigration.
• Development of Video Visits and mobile applications for prison staff (CMS on the Move).
• Acquisition of Beaumont Colson, expanding Unilink’s expertise to probation case management.

• Contract awarded by the Norwegian Correctional Service to deliver an integrated offender case management platform for prisons and probation (2019), deployment of prisoner self-service in Agder Prison (2020) and opening of Unilink’s Norway subsidiary (2020).
• Northern Ireland Prison Service awards contract for prisoner self-service.
• First implementation of patient self service system at Ashworth Hospital (MerseyCare)
• Development of Medication Dispensation Lockers (MDL) in collaboration with Care UK and Traka (ASSA ABLOY) in 2019.
• Launch of Unilink’s Justice Cloud (UJC), introducing cloud-based SaaS delivery, with Serco becoming the first fully SaaS prison customer.
• Statewide rollout of EMAP and Secure Payments across all correctional centres in Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland (2020)

• Scottish Prison Service awards contract for prisoner self-service proof of concept at HMP Schotts and virtual visits across all prisons in Scotland.
• Statewide rollout of EMAP across all Northern Territory correctional centres (2021) and further expansion in Western Australia (2022 -24)
• Expansion of services supporting immigration operations to MTC in Australia.
• Deployment of prisoner self-service including the first use of contactless biometric identification (MorphoWave) at HMP Five Wells (2022).
• Creation of AIM (Alert, Monitor, Intervene) in collaboration with Serco, an analytical tool supporting prisoner wellbeing and safety (2021) and First deployment at HMP Bronzefield, a Sodexo operated prison (2022).
• Development of PoP, a mobile application for probation reporting (2022) and first pilot start in Yorkshire & Humber Probation (2023).
• Introduction of the Prisoner and Staff Platform, enabling secure digital services for residents and operational control tools for staff.
• All Serco and Sodexo operated prisons implement AIM (2023)
• Unilink receives the King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade (2023).

• Norwegian Correctional Services – Kriminalomsorgen, successfully piloted part of U-Case (KODA) at Ila Detention and Security Prison (2024) and completed a successful proof of concept (POC) for the deployment of U-Case pre-sentence reports (PSRs) in probation offices, marking U-Case first live implementation at a national scale (2025).
• Mitie selects Unilink to provide prisoner self-service at HMP Millsike (2024).
• NHS Ayrshire & Arran deploy patient self-service SaaS at Foxgrove (2025).
• Launch of a comprehensive brand and product platform transformation, introducing the unified product architecture: U-Case • Staff Platform • Self-Service • U-Connect (2025-26).
• Further expansion of Staff Platform capabilities with AI-assisted operational tools for custodial staff.
• Establishment of the Unilink AI Research Centre, focusing on responsible and ethical development of artificial intelligence applications for the justice sector (2025).
• Independent study by Professor Danielle McDermott (Leeds Trinity University): The Use of Technology in Detecting Risk of Self-Harm and Suicide in Prison, highlights the critical role of AIM in helping staff detect early signs of vulnerability, isolation and distress among prisoners (2025).
• Launch of the first AI product created specifically for use in corrections: VisitSense AI, an advanced anomaly detection capability (2026). 

Unilink delivers secure, scalable digital platforms across justice, custodial and community services, supporting 200+ establishments internationally.

Our ecosystem, spanning case management, self-service, communication and staff tools, reduces administrative burden and improves operational outcomes.

With over 30 years of expertise, we are now advancing responsible, explainable AI, helping organisations enhance decision-making, improve safety, and deliver more effective services.