The Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, has issued a stark warning that drones are being used to orchestrate a sophisticated smuggling operation within UK prisons, delivering everything from weight loss medication to illicit drugs and creating a 'new paradigm' for security.
A New Paradigm in Prison Contraband
Mr Taylor revealed that organised crime gangs are using advanced drone technology with pinpoint accuracy, aided by systems like what3words, to drop large packages directly to inmates. These drones can now carry packages weighing as much as 10kg, a significant increase in capacity that allows for bulk deliveries.
The list of smuggled items is vast and varied. While ketamine, cocaine, ecstasy, and 'bales of cannabis' are common, the contraband also includes lifestyle drugs. Ozempic, a weight loss drug, hair loss medication like minoxidil, and anabolic steroids are all being flown over prison walls.
Security Measures Overwhelmed and Undermined
The Prison Service is struggling to keep pace with this technological threat. Charlie Taylor explained that the public sector's lengthy procurement process makes it difficult to acquire counter-drone equipment quickly enough.
Traditional security upgrades are also failing. After prisons strengthened bar windows, inmates found new ways to breach them. Inspectors at HMP Manchester discovered that prisoners were using filaments from kettles to burn holes into new windows to receive drone deliveries. In a disturbing escalation, window fitters have even been threatened in their own homes by gang members.
Warnings of an Escalating Threat
The situation has prompted serious concerns about future risks. Charlie Taylor fears that drones could one day be used to smuggle explosives, guns, and other weapons into prisons, or even assist in a coordinated prison break.
Robert Jenrich, the shadow justice secretary, has described UK prisons as being 'under siege'. He told The Times: 'Unless the government acts, it’s only a matter of time before a weapon or explosives are delivered to a prisoner. The anti-drone tech is out there and ready to be used — they just need to get on with it.'
The Prison Officers' Association is urging the government to implement a 'sky wall' system, similar to the one used at a prison in Guernsey, which is designed to send drones back to their operators. The Ministry of Justice has been approached for comment on its strategy to combat this growing crisis.
