Prisons in England and Wales face a sharp rise in drone incidents delivering drugs, raising serious security concerns among officials
London: So, it turns out prisons in England and Wales are dealing with a huge spike in drones dropping off drugs. Crazy, right? The head of a Commons committee is saying they need more funding to tackle this issue.
According to a report, there were over 1,200 drone incidents in just ten months, which is a massive jump from previous years. It’s like the number of drones has exploded, and it’s got everyone worried about prison security.
Andy Slaughter, the Labour chair of the Commons justice committee, is sounding the alarm. He mentioned that if the Prison Service was on top of things, we wouldn’t be seeing these numbers. It’s frustrating to think that organized crime is outsmarting those meant to keep prisons safe.
With around 130 drone incidents each month, experts predict that by the end of 2024, we could see more than 1,500 incidents. And honestly, the real number might be even higher since many of these deliveries happen at night.
Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons, has said that the rise in drone use is his biggest concern. He’s worried it could lead to more serious issues, like firearms being used in turf wars or escape attempts.
In one report about HMP Garth, an inmate even compared the drone activity to an airport! It’s wild how gangs are recruiting skilled drone pilots to help them smuggle stuff into prisons.
These drones are no joke. They can carry several kilograms of contraband and are equipped with fancy tech like thermal imaging. Even with new laws making it illegal to fly drones near prisons, the problem keeps getting worse.
Some prisons are trying to fight back with counter-drone tech, but it seems like not many are actually stopping the drones from getting close. Plus, the state of many prisons makes it easier for inmates to snag contraband through broken windows.
There’s a new inquiry looking into the drug problem in prisons, and the rise in drone deliveries is a big part of it. Slaughter believes this is a serious security breach that needs urgent attention and funding.
He’s pushing for solutions, like using signal blockers to keep drones out of prison airspace. It’s about time something gets done, right? If this was happening at an airport, you can bet it would be taken seriously.
A government spokesperson acknowledged the issue, saying it’s a sign of the crisis in prisons. They’re working with the police to tackle the illegal use of drones and the drug problem in jails.
