This prison is an airport!
Today’s inspection of HMP Garth, a high security prison in Lancashire, makes clear the ever-increasing threat that drones pose to prison security. As police officers now, much of law enforcement in the 21st century is characterised by a technological arms race between those committing crime and those trying to prevent it or apprehend the offenders.
The issue of the delivery of drugs to prison by drones is well-known but there has been a huge increase in the problem over the last couple of years.
Last month, the Ministry of Justice published information following a Freedom of Information request about the number of drones sighted or reported in or around prisons in England and Wales for the five years between 2019 and 2023 (inclusive). The growth of drone activity is startling to say the least. There were 122 sightings in 2019, 248 in 2021 and a staggering 1,063 in 2023.
HMP Garth inspection
In today’s report, prison inspectors highlighted the fact that the availability of drugs, alcohol and phones posed a considerable security challenge. In inspectors’ prisoner survey, 63% of prisoners said that drugs were easy to get compared with 44% at the previous inspection and 41% at similar prisons. Inspectors noted that the smell of drugs was evident throughout the inspection visit and that the impact of this easy availability could be seen in the increasing levels of violence, the full segregation unit and the large number of prisoners who wanted protection from their peers because they were in debt. Routine drug testing in the last year showed that a third of prisoners were misusing substances.
Both staff and prisoners were well aware that the main route by which drugs were getting into the prison were delivery by drones. Men were using the elements from their kettles to burn holes in their inadequately protected Perspex windows, allowing drones to drop off contraband.
One prisoner told inspectors: ‘This is now an airport!’, referring to the number of drones coming into the prison. Senior leaders were well aware of the problem and had taken a number of steps to reduce the supply of drugs into the prison, such as removing paper, increasing patrols of the perimeter, delivering drone awareness training and searching prisoners at unpredictable times.
However, inspectors found that the prison was fighting a losing battle with these were initiatives not enough to address the substantial challenge that drones posed. Prisoners were continually burning holes in the prison windows at a faster rate than they could be repaired. On the first day of inspection, 13 cells had windows with holes, five still occupied by prisoners.
A widespread problem
Recent reports from across the prison estate show the scale of the problem. Great Manchester Police announced last month that the region’s gangs were using skilled drone pilots to deliver drugs.
GMP recently used dogs and a helicopter in raids outside HMP Forest Bank, a private prison in Salford, as part of efforts to crack down on the problem.
Det Supt Buckthorpe told the BBC that contraband goods are often suspended on lines attached to the drones and are dangled close to cell windows.
“These drone pilots have got a really high skill set. The way you fly drones now, you can pin point them to certain area via coordinates and other methods,”
He said the drones used were capable of delivering “huge payloads” of up to 7kg (15lb).
“The technology is improving all the time, it’s getting more sophisticated”,
he said, adding it was also becoming more accessible as drones became cheaper.
Prison Officers reported a range of items being smuggled into Greater Manchester’s jails, including tobacco, shampoo, shower gel, and even sachets of mustard and tomato ketchup.
Det Supt Buckthorpe said that the involvement of organised crime groups who were delivering drugs and other contraband to prisons across the country was one of the reasons driving the increase in the use of drones. He said that some gangs were recruiting previously law-abiding citizens with skillset and experience to fly the drones.
The response
In January this year the Ministry of Justice established 400 metre flight restriction zones around all closed prisons and Young Offender Institutions in England and Wales. These Restricted Fly Zones are intended to disrupt illegal drone use but are clearly having limited impact. The total of drone-related convictions since June 2016 amounts to just 70.
As long ago as 2017, Guernsey prison successfully piloted an electronic fencing initiative which blocks radio signals around the prison when drones are detected. The system uses a series of “disruptors”, which are sensors to jam the drone’s computer, and block its frequency and control protocols. The operator’s screen will go black and the drone will be bounced back to where it came from.
However, despite calls for its implementation across the mainland prison estate, there have been no official announcements to date.
One Response
I am appalled at the ease of obtaining drugs, phones and other contraband in prisons. With the technology available today, countries are able to shoot down Ballistic missiles and we cant even stop drones flying in plain sight above our prisons. Shame on this Country !
Clearly it is not that we are unable to prevent the drones delivering illegal cargo. Without doubt the choice is to allow it to continue as the authorities would not be unable to manage the prisons without it. How can they possibly deal with prisoners going ‘cold turkey’?
While prisoners are kept active selling drugs, enforcing payment via mobile phones to friends and families by threats and intimidation, forcing drugs on prisoners that had looked on prison as an opportunity to get clean. While prisoners continue to conduct their criminal activity with greater ease than they could on the outside, unchallenged and unpunished they are easier to manage. Also so much easier for prison staff to turn a blind eye than confront and upset the dealers.. Anything for a quiet life.
There is no doubt that criminal gangs are in charge in our prisons and that other prisoners are more frightened of them in the prisons than outside. Inside there is no place to hide and no one to turn to. How can you be sure that a prison officer is not in cahoots with a dealer you are complaining about. How can you take the chance that a complaint will be dealt with seriously and in confidence and that you will be kept safe.
All in all dealers are left to their own devices and others are left to live in fear. This creates a more manageable environment for prison officers and for the Governors who have no strikes or riots in their supposedly ‘ well managed ‘ prisons.
To conclude, prisons will always continue to be a revolving door while drug dealers continue to sell dugs and vulnerable addicts continue to take them. Inside or out. What’s the difference?