Drone-delivered weapons in jails a 'national security threat'

The UK's prison watchdog has warned that drones delivering weapons to two of England's highest-security prisons pose a national security risk. Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor stated that the smuggling of contraband by inmates at Manchester Prison and Long Lartin Prison in Worcestershire is now so prevalent that it may even include firearms.

These two prisons house some of the country's most dangerous individuals, including terrorists, murderers, and organized crime leaders. Taylor told BBC News that prison authorities have "given up the airspace above prisons," increasing the risk of armed violence, escapes, and hostage-taking. His warning comes in a scathing report on the conditions at these two maximum-security facilities.

His inspection team found serious and repeated failures in security, with clear evidence of gangs arranging for items, including weapons, drugs, and mobile phones, to be delivered to inmates via aerial routes. "This poses a national security threat," Taylor said. "An increasing number of serious weapons could be entering our prisons, which means there are risks, particularly in these Category A prisons, especially for some of the highest-risk individuals who are linked to organized crime groups or terrorists."

Taylor stated that gangs are now using drones to deliver up to 3lbs (1.3kg) of contraband into prisons. Inmates have organized deliveries of "zombie knives," and firearms may soon follow. "Knives are definitely getting in," he said. "If someone is determined enough, it's entirely possible they could get a gun in. If weapons can get into the prison, then prisoners can use them to take hostages or threaten staff in order to get to the gate. It is also possible that someone could be taken away by drone. It is unlikely, but it is something the prison service, police, and security services must pay close attention to. What we are seeing in effect is that the airspace above our prisons, holding some of the highest-risk individuals in the country, is being occupied by organized crime groups."

The report revealed that both Manchester and Long Lartin prisons had malfunctioning CCTV and anti-drone netting. Officers at Manchester Prison frequently saw drones flying around the prison at night. Inmates were destroying £5,000 worth of cell windows faster than they could be repaired and using mobile phone GPS apps to guide drones to deliver items to precise locations. At Long Lartin, which houses those convicted of terrorism offenses, gangs were dropping contraband from drones in black plastic bags. These bags were indistinguishable from bags of human excrement thrown from cell windows, meaning inmates could easily collect them by participating in litter patrols. Some gangs concealed contraband in balls of grass so they would be camouflaged if they landed on the lawn.

The prison watchdog issued an urgent notification about conditions at Manchester Prison in October, stating that it was one of the most violent prisons in the country. The alert made it the fifth prison within a year to require an urgent ministerial response. The Ministry of Justice said it was already taking action by improving security measures, including new CCTV systems and anti-drone netting. "This government inherited a prison system in crisis," a spokesperson said. "We are getting a grip by investing in prison maintenance and security, working with police and other agencies to crack down on serious organized crime, and building more prison places to hold dangerous criminals."