January 14th 2025.
HMP Manchester is one of the many prisons in the UK that has been affected by the rising threat of drug drones. These unmanned aerial vehicles, controlled by criminal gangs, are being used to deliver contraband to inmates, causing serious safety concerns within the facility. As the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, puts it, this has become a national security threat that cannot be ignored.
According to Mr. Taylor, even high-security prisons like HMP Manchester and HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire are not immune to this issue. In fact, he believes that the police and government have effectively handed over the control of the airspace above these prisons to these organized crime groups. This has allowed them to carry out illegal activities, leading to the thriving drug economies within the prison walls.
The situation has become so dire that last year, Mr. Taylor had to urge the justice secretary to take immediate action and place HMP Manchester under emergency measures. In his latest report, he expresses his concern about the safety of not only the staff and inmates but also the general public. He emphasizes the urgent need for the Prison Service, police, and other security services to tackle this organized gang activity and reduce the supply of drugs and other illicit items.
One of the alarming aspects of this issue is that these criminals are able to direct delivery drones to specific cells, including those of high-risk category A prisoners. This poses a serious threat to the safety of everyone involved. Mr. Taylor also mentions other prisons, such as HMP The Mount and HMP Garth, where similar problems have been reported. In fact, he recently described HMP Garth as resembling an airport, due to the number of drones found in the area.
Last October, it was revealed that inmates in Manchester were using kettle filaments to burn holes in their cell windows, allowing them to receive their illegal deliveries. This method, although dangerous, is not necessary in some other prisons, as the windows are already broken, as reported by the Independent Monitoring Boards. This highlights the dire state of these facilities in England and Wales.
The Ministry of Justice has been contacted for comment on this pressing issue. However, it is evident that immediate action needs to be taken to address the use of drug drones in prisons. It is a matter of national security, and failure to tackle it can have serious consequences for everyone involved. We must work together to confront organized gang activity and ensure the safety and security of our prisons.
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