14 January 2025 , 12:13
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The UK’s top prison inspector has warned drug drones are a national security threat, as inmates burn holes in their windows to receive deliveries.
Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor said ‘extremely dangerous’ prisoners in high-security facilities were among those able to get hold of contraband.
He accused the police and government of effectively letting criminal gangs control the airspace above HMP Manchester and HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire.
A report published today highlights serious concerns over nets and CCTV falling into disrepair at the two sites.
The situation has allowed both to become ‘thriving’ drug economies, Mr Taylor said.
Last year, the scale of the issues at HMP Manchester – previously named Strangeways – prompted him to tell the justice secretary to place the prison into emergency measures.
Ahead of the release of his latest report, 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.’
Criminals can direct delivery drones to specific cells (Picture: Getty Images)
Similar issues have also been reported at sites including HMP The Mount in Hertfordshire and HMP Garth in Lancashire, which was recently described by Mr Taylor as resembling an ‘airport’ due to the number of drones.
Last October, it was revealed that prisoners in Manchester were using kettle filaments to burn holes into their cell windows so they could pick up their illicit deliveries.
Another report from Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB) suggests such techniques are not necessary at some of the ‘crumbling’ prisons in England and Wales – as the windows are broken anyway.
The Ministry of Justice has been contacted for comment.