Drug drones have exposed our weak prison system – and are a ‘threat to national security’

Manchester: So, it turns out that drones are becoming a real headache for prisons. For ages, smugglers had a few basic ways to get stuff in—like tossing it over the wall or using visitors. But now, drones have changed the game.

Authorities have been trying to keep up by tightening security checks and using fancy scanners. But since drones hit the scene about ten years ago, it’s been a whole new ball game. Inmates and their buddies figured out they could use these flying gadgets to drop drugs right into their cells. And honestly, it feels like prison staff are losing this battle.

Tom Wheatley, who heads the Prison Governors’ Association, says as soon as drones became available, they were used for smuggling. With stricter checks on visitors, criminals just found a new way to get their goods inside.

It’s kind of wild when you think about it. Drones are way less gruesome than some of the old-school methods, like using dead animals to sneak in contraband. The first sightings of drones over prisons in England and Wales were back in 2014, and now they’re everywhere. Just last year, HMP Manchester had 220 drone sightings alone!

Charlie Taylor, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, is sounding the alarm. He says these drones are a “threat to national security.” He’s worried that organized crime is taking over the airspace above high-security prisons, which is pretty scary when you think about it.

Wheatley mentions that most drone deliveries happen at night when there are fewer staff around. Inmates can use their phones to coordinate with outside gangs, making it easier to get their hands on drugs and phones. And if they can’t get a drone to them, they’ve got all sorts of sneaky ways to pass stuff around inside the prison.

Authorities are trying to fight back with new laws and security measures, but it’s tough. In 2015, they made it illegal to land a drone in prison, and they’ve set up special teams to tackle the issue. But with drones getting cheaper and more powerful, it’s a constant struggle.

Just last year, one drone delivery was caught carrying over £35,000 worth of drugs and phones. Wheatley warns that if criminals decide they want to smuggle in weapons or explosives, it could get really dangerous.

The Ministry of Justice is working on improving security and has started installing new CCTV and netting at HMP Manchester to catch those pesky drones. Greater Manchester Police are also on it, trying to disrupt the gangs behind this smuggling.

But honestly, prison officials aren’t too optimistic. Wheatley says it’s like an arms race, and they don’t see an easy fix coming anytime soon. It’s a tough situation, and it looks like drones are here to stay for a while.