Watchdog warns of ‘national security threat’ from drone drug drops to jails
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Drones dropping drugs and weapons to dangerous prisoners being held in high-security jails are a “threat to national security”, a watchdog has warned. Chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor accused the police and Government of giving up control of the airspace above HMP Manchester and HMP Long Lartin as he called on them and the security services to “urgently confront” activity from criminal gangs behind the supply.
Publishing findings on Tuesday after inspections at the two prisons in September and October, he raised serious concerns over safety and basic security, describing the jails as having “thriving” drug economies with nets and CCTV being allowed to fall into “disrepair”.
The scale of the problem at HMP Manchester, previously known as Strangeways, included inmates burning holes in windows to receive drone deliveries and prompted Mr Taylor to last year tell the Justice Secretary to put the prison into emergency measures.
Mr Taylor said: “It is highly alarming that the police and prison service have in effect ceded the airspace above two high-security prisons to organised crime gangs which are able to deliver contraband to jails holding extremely dangerous prisoners, including some who have been designated as high-risk category A.
“The safety of staff, prisoners and ultimately that of the public is seriously compromised by the failure to tackle what has become a threat to national security. “The prison service, the police and other security services must urgently confront organised gang activity and reduce the supply of drugs and other illicit items which so clearly undermine every aspect of prison life.”.
