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Warning over drone security threat to prisons | Warning over drone security threat to prisons |
(about 3 hours later) | |
There were nine attempts to use drones to infiltrate prisons in England and Wales in the first five months of 2015, according to the Ministry of Justice. | There were nine attempts to use drones to infiltrate prisons in England and Wales in the first five months of 2015, according to the Ministry of Justice. |
Among them was a drone carrying mobile phones and drugs that was intercepted by guards at Bedford Prison in March. | Among them was a drone carrying mobile phones and drugs that was intercepted by guards at Bedford Prison in March. |
The use of drones is an "emerging threat", Eve Richard from the National Offender Management Service told a defence and security conference in London, the Independent reported. | The use of drones is an "emerging threat", Eve Richard from the National Offender Management Service told a defence and security conference in London, the Independent reported. |
Attempts are rare, the government said. | |
There were four known attempts to fly drones into prisons in England and Wales in 2014, the MoJ confirmed. | |
In August, a drone was found in the grounds of Norwich prison, while another was found caught in fencing at Liverpool prison recently. | In August, a drone was found in the grounds of Norwich prison, while another was found caught in fencing at Liverpool prison recently. |
Even the highest security prisons are vulnerable to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the Independent quoted intelligence analyst Ms Richard as saying. | |
There is no evidence that drones have been used to successfully smuggle contraband items into prisons, but there is potential for it to happen in the future, she reportedly told a briefing at the Defence and Security Equipment International exhibition in London. | |
"In a nutshell, our intelligence suggests that the use of UAVs to release items into our prisons is an emerging threat. It's not a huge issue at the moment but there is the potential for it to increase and become more of an issue," the newspaper quoted her as saying. | |
'Organised gangs' | 'Organised gangs' |
Mark Icke, vice-president of the Prison Governors Association, said he believed the drones were mostly being used to try to smuggle drugs into prisons. | Mark Icke, vice-president of the Prison Governors Association, said he believed the drones were mostly being used to try to smuggle drugs into prisons. |
"What we've got happening in the prison system at the moment is that we have younger, more advanced criminal networks operating in and around prison systems," he said. | |
"We're talking about big, organised gangs, and they're not about disorder, they're about making money. There is a huge mark-up on drugs in prison." | |
He said the use of drones was "an emerging threat and something we're concerned about", but that prison guards had limited control over preventing them. | He said the use of drones was "an emerging threat and something we're concerned about", but that prison guards had limited control over preventing them. |
Security caging around windows and overhead netting in prison yards, similar to that used in high security prisons, would help reduce the threat, he said. | Security caging around windows and overhead netting in prison yards, similar to that used in high security prisons, would help reduce the threat, he said. |
'Zero tolerance' | |
The Prison Service said incidents involving drones were rare, but it remained "constantly vigilant" to all new threats. | |
A spokesman said: "We are introducing new legislation to further strengthen our powers, making it illegal to land a drone in prison or to use a drone to drop in psychoactive substances. | |
"We take a zero-tolerance approach to illicit material in prisons and work closely with the police and CPS to ensure those caught are prosecuted and face extra time behind bars." | |
Anyone using drones in an attempt to get contraband into prisons could be punished with a sentence of up to two years, he added. |