New ‘no-fly zones’ will be introduced in January (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Drones will be banned from flying within 400 metres of prisons to stop drugs, weapons and mobile phones being flown in to inmates.
New ‘no-fly zones’ will be introduced around closed jails and young offender institutions in England and Wales, with those breaching the rules fined up to £2,500.
Anyone caught smuggling items into jail already faces up to 10 years in prison.
But currently police can only act on drone sightings where there is evidence contraband is being illegally smuggled, despite Liz Truss promising to set up no-fly zones when she was justice secretary in 2016.
Drones are an increasingly popular way to try and deliver drugs, weapons, mobile phones and other banned items to inmates.
One attempted drone delivery in May 2022 contained more than £35,000 of drugs and mobile phones.
The new restrictions, due to take effect from January 25, 2024, will mean authorities can quickly identify suspicious drones and take action against those behind them.
Drones have been used to try and smuggle several banned items into UK prisons (Picture: Ian Waldie/Getty Images)
It’s also hoped the new rules will help improve security by preventing illegal filming inside prisons.
Prisons minister Damian Hinds said: ‘This is the latest step in the war we are winning to stop drugs, weapons and phones getting into our prisons.
‘These virtual “no-fly” zones – along with our new airport-style X-ray scanners – mean we can clamp down better than ever on violence behind bars to keep both prisoners and staff safe from harm.’
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Between 2019 and 2021, 504 drones were sighted, intercepted or seized around prisons in England and Wales, and police and prison staff have worked together to help secure more than 70 convictions since June 2016.
The legal change was made in secondary legislation under powers in the Air Navigation Order.
In 2016, a CCTV camera captured a drone delivering drugs to an inmate’s cell.
The inmate, obviously expecting the drone delivery, can be seen trying to hook the bag of contraband with two pieces of wood and pull it into the cell.
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Drones will be banned from flying within 400 metres of prisons.