Drone delivery of contraband will embarrass national security. Britain’s chief prisons inspector said as much Tuesday. He called for urgent action. Jails engage in unlawful conduct towards their inmates.
This version emphasizes the active role of the jails themselves in perpetuating these illegal actions.
A case study: Manchester Prison
Prisoners at Manchester Prison set fire to window panes. They were offered drone deliveries. These drones delivered heavy payloads. They can cause disruption or escapes as payloads. This was reported by Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor.
Drone Activity and Overcrowding Are on the Rise
There has been a rise in the use of drones around prisons. This was despite fly zones put in place a year ago. Drone use contributed to increasing jail overcrowding. Britain has the highest incarceration rate in Western Europe.
“Thriving” Illicit Economies Found During Inspections
Taylor’s warnings come after inspections. The inspections took place in September and October. They set their sights on two violent prisons: Manchester and Long Lartin. Both prisons had robust black markets. These involved drugs, phones and weaponry. Even the most basic drone delivery measures had languished.
Crisis in the Skies and Conceded Airspace
“Police and prison service have given up airspace,” Taylor said. He said this applies to two maximum-security prisons. Organized crime gangs are now controlling this airspace using drones. This endangers the safety of staff, prisoners and the public.” This inability to address the problem endangers national security.
”Grim” Conditions, Breaches of Basic Security
Taylor said that conditions were “grim.” There were dirt, damp and litter, he noted. There was a plague of rodents in Manchester. Prisoners slept on mattress foam to keep warm. Thirty-nine percent were positive for drugs. Inmates at Long Lartin used buckets as toilets. They dumped excrement out of windows. Fifty percent of prisoners said they could easily obtain drugs and liquor, often delivered by drones.
