DronesPolice seized drones trying to smuggle contraband into London prison
The police have seized two drones carrying drugs and mobile phones as they were making their way toward the all-male Pentonville jail in Islington, north London. Drones were increasingly being used to smuggle items into prisons in England and Wales. Figures showed there were thirty-three incidents involving devices in 2015, compared to two in 2014 and none in 2013.bDrugs, phones, mobile chargers, and USB cards were among the items discovered.
The police have seized two drones carrying drugs and mobile phones as they were making their way toward the all-male Pentonville jail in Islington, north London.
The police had been investigating contraband smuggling attempts into the prison, and over the weekend of 12-14 August, police officers from the Caledonian Neighborhoods Policing Team and the Metropolitan Police’s Special Constabulary were on patrol near the prison as part of Operation Airborne.
Ars Technica reports that in the early hours of the morning of 13 August, officers noticed a man behaving suspiciously near the prison. They gave chase, but the man escaped, dropping two bags containing drugs and mobile phones. The man has not yet been identified or caught.
The next day, police officers noticed a drone flying toward the prison, and tracked it in flight until it crashed just short of HMP Pentonville. Later in the day a second drone was spotted heading toward the prison. It was stopped mid-flight and, and the officers found it was carrying a package containing a large quantity of drugs and two mobile phones.
Detective Chief Inspector Steve Heatley said: “These recovered drones carried a substantial amount of Class B drugs, legal highs and a large quantity of mobile phones; we are able to intercept them thanks to the vigilance of officers and the public.
“We work closely with the Prison Service to gather intelligence in order to carry out proactive operations to arrest and prosecute such offenders. I would urge anyone with information about these events to contact the police or Crimestoppers to help us to identify those responsible.”
The police has set up a phone number for people to call if the spot a drone in the vicinity of the prison.
The BBC reports that drones were increasingly being used to smuggle items into prisons in England and Wales. Figures showed there were thirty-three incidents involving devices in 2015, compared to two in 2014 and none in 2013.
Drugs, phones, mobile chargers, and USB cards were among the items discovered.
