The increasing use of drones to transport guns and contraband into two of England’s most security jails has alarmed the chief inspector of prisons. Due to its increased frequency, this new distribution technique now seriously threatens national security. Terrorists, killers, and senior members of organised crime gangs are among the most dangerous inmates housed in the institutions above, HMP Manchester and HMP Long Lartin. This increasing concern stems from the increased prevalence of drone smuggling, which involves using drones to transport harmful cargo.
How Are Dangerous Goods Smuggled Using Drones?
The chief inspector claims that the use of drones to deliver illegal goods to prisoners has escalated to worrying proportions. “Organised crime gangs are gaining control of the airspace above our prisons,” the inspector cautioned. Gangs have been employing drones to carry cargo weighing up to 3 pounds (1.3 kg), and inmates have been coordinating the aerial supply of firearms, narcotics, and phones. These jails, which hold some of the nation’s most well-known offenders, are more susceptible to this new smuggling technique. Although weapons like “Zombie knives” are already being imported, the inspector stressed that there is an increasing chance that firearms will be smuggled in.
“If a weapon can be got into a prison, then the prisoner can use that to take hostages potentially or to threaten staff to be able to get towards the gate,” the inspector stated. Additionally, a drone could pick someone up. Although it’s doubtful, the police, security services, and jail service will need to be heavily involved in this.” Since authorities are finding it difficult to stop this risky trend, the popularity of drone smuggling has grown to be a serious security issue.
What Effects Does This Have on National Security?
This illegal distribution mechanism has significant ramifications. As the inspector pointed out, the frequent use of drones to deliver hazardous materials into the facilities raises the possibility of armed conflict, escapes, and hostage situations. According to the inspector, “this is a threat to national security,” “The potential for serious weapons to be able to get into our prisons in increasing numbers means that there is a risk, particularly with these Category A prisons, particularly with some of the riskiest men in the country who are either connected to organised crime gangs or they’re terrorists.”
It is a grave lapse for prison officials not to safeguard the airspace over these high-security facilities. “We’re seeing that the airspace above our prisons, holding some of the most risky men in the country, is being ceded to organised crime gangs,” said the inspector. Given the dangerous people kept in these facilities, the persistent issue of drone smuggling is posing serious national security problems.
Which security flaws have been discovered in the prisons of Manchester and Long Lartin?
Both HMP Manchester and HMP Long Lartin have significant security flaws, according to reports from the prison inspector. Anti-drone netting and CCTV systems intended to stop drone deliveries have frequently fallen short of sufficient security. Inmates have been using the prison’s security flaws to plan deliveries, and officers at HMP Manchester have reported seeing drones flying about the facility regularly at night.
Inmates have occasionally been using phone GPS apps to guide drones to exact positions, causing holes in £5,000 cell windows more quickly than they could be fixed. UAVs dump contraband in black plastic bags that look like bags of human garbage at HMP Long Lartin, where inmates are convicted of terrorism charges. This ingenious strategy makes it easier for inmates to gather the contraband—sometimes by participating in prison litter patrols—by blending it in with the surroundings.
Which Cutting-Edge Smuggling Techniques Do Gangs Employ?
Gangs have begun utilising balls of grass to conceal deliveries that fall on lawns and deploying drones to drop illegal goods. These cutting-edge techniques demonstrate how much-organised crime has changed to take advantage of gaps in jail security. According to the inspector, “gangs are hiding contraband in balls of grass to camouflage them if they fall on the lawns,” underscoring the inventive methods used by criminal organisations and prisoners to bring illegal goods into the institutions.
How Is the Crisis Being Handled by the Government?
In response to these cautions, the Ministry of Justice has pledged to strengthen prison security. After the prisons watchdog’s October urgent letter labelled HMP Manchester one of the nation’s most dangerous institutions, the government has taken action to remedy the situation. More attempts are being undertaken to address the rising issue of contraband smuggling, and the Ministry has installed anti-drone netting and a new CCTV system.
“This Government inherited prisons in crisis,” a Ministry of Justice official stated. We are taking control of the situation by investing in jail security and upkeep, collaborating with law enforcement and others to combat severe organised crime, and constructing additional prisons.
What Is the Increasing Danger of Escapes and Violence?
Notwithstanding these steps, the increased sophistication of contraband smuggling techniques and the frequency of drone deliveries point to a significant problem for the criminal justice system. The dangers of armed conflict, escape, and hostage situations are greater than ever because these facilities house some of the nation’s most dangerous criminals. The inspector concluded that the situation requires immediate response from law enforcement, prison officials, and the larger security agencies.
“The potential for serious incidents within prisons, including the ability for inmates to commit violent acts or even escape, is a growing concern that requires immediate action,” according to the inspector.
In conclusion, the growing use of drones to transport weapons and other hazardous materials into prisons continues to pose a serious threat to national security, even if the government is taking action to solve these security lapses. Much work is still needed to guarantee the security and safety of the general public and prison employees. The growing possibility of drone smuggling is still raising nationwide concerns.
