Drones flying into UK prisons to be probed

UK's Prison Service and police are set to probe drones flying drugs and mobile phones to inmates in England and Wales, the media reported on Monday.

The teams will forensically examine captured drones to try to find out who was flying them, the BBC reported.

Prisons Minister Sam Gyimah said: "We are absolutely determined to tackle the illegal flow of drugs and mobile phones into our prisons and turn them into places of safety and reform.

"The threat posed by drones is clear but our dedicated staff are committed to winning the fight against those who are attempting to thwart progress by wreaking havoc in establishments all over the country."

John Podmore, former head of the Prison Service's anti-corruption unit, said whilst there was an issue with contraband in prisons, targeting this money at drones was a "PR stunt".

"I have seen no evidence that there is a real problem with drones," he told the BBC.

"I think the number of incidents last year was 33.

According to the Ministry of Justice, there were some successes in finding and punishing those who are behind the drone flights.

In December, Dean Rawley-Bell, 21, was jailed for four years and eight months after he used a drone in attempts to smuggle drugs and mobile phones into Manchester Prison, the BBC reports.

Renelle Carlisle, 23, was sentenced to three years and four months in October after he was caught outside Risley Prison in Warrington with a drone in his bag.

In July, 37-year-old Daniel Kelly was jailed for 14 months for trying to supply contraband to offenders in Elmley and Swaleside Prison in Sheppey, Wandsworth Prison in London and the Mount Prison in Hemel Hempstead.

--IANS

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