Organised crime unit expanded in prisons in England and Wales to fight escalating gang activity
Share:
Amid increasing drone use and drug-related violence, the prisons minister, James Timpson, is ‘beefing up’ measures. The Prison Service is “beefing up” a cadre of officers dedicated to smashing gangs in prisons in the face of escalating drone use and drug-related violence, the prisons minister has said.
James Timpson said the work of the department’s serious organised crime unit is being expanded, and expressed concern that a minority of prison officers have been corrupted by “very manipulative people”. He also agreed with the prison watchdog’s claim that drone use by gangs is “a national security threat” after weapons and drugs were flown into high security prisons.
The disclosures follow deepening concern that criminal gangs are taking control of prisons across England and Wales. Asked how the government is going to stop gangs from infiltrating prisons, Timpson said: “We have a serious organised crime unit which we are beefing up and we are going to really focus on this.
“I personally recognise what a toxic culture it can bring on to the wings when serious organised criminals really start to take advantage of vulnerable people.”. The unit monitors and disrupts organised crime gangs across England and Wales’ 123 prisons alongside the National Crime Agency and regional police forces.
Of more than 87,000 prisoners in December 2023, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) estimated that more than one in 10 (10.6%) were involved in organised crime. The chief inspector of prisons, Charlie Taylor, accused the police and prison service this month of ceding control of the airspace above two category A jails – HMP Manchester and HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire.
