- Prison Service working with police to tackle threat of drones
as part of Plan for Change
- Drone incidents up by 43 per cent in the last financial
year, new data reveals
- Two recent counter-drone operations result in nine arrests
Organised crime gangs are being targeted by the police and prison
service as part of a nationwide crackdown on drone drops into
prisons.
The move is backed by a new investment of £900,000 and designed
to disrupt the in-flow of drugs and weapons that are
destabilising prisons and putting staff and offenders at
risk.
It builds on the £40 million already invested this year into
prison security measures, including exterior netting and
reinforced windows. Stopping the flow of drugs and weapons
getting into prisons is a crucial step in gripping the prisons
crisis the Government inherited to make streets safer, as part of
the Plan for Change.
The news comes as data published today (31 July) reveals there
were 1,712 drone incidents between April 2024 and March 2025 at
prisons across England and Wales. This is an increase of 43 per
cent compared to the previous 12 months.
The clampdown has already seen counter-drone operations at HMPs
Manchester and Wandsworth leading to the swift arrest of nine
individuals. Similar operations are planned in the coming months.
Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending,
, said:
“The ease with which drones were operating over prisons was yet
another sign of the chaotic prison system we inherited last July.
“As part of the Plan for Change, we are tackling the organised
crime gangs behind the drug supply routes so that our prisons can
start cutting crime and stop creating better criminals.”
One of the sophisticated drones recovered in the HMP Wandsworth
operation had a value of £6,000, an extended flight time of 40
minutes and the ability to hold four loads at one time.
Four further arrests were made by West Mercia Police earlier this
month for flying drones over high-security prison HMP Long
Lartin.
Detective Superintendent of the North West Regional
Organised Crime Unit, Claire McGuire said:
“Tackling the use of drones to smuggle drugs, weapons, and other
illicit items into prisons is one of our top priorities. These
activities fuel organised crime and pose serious risks to both
staff and inmates.
"We continue to work closely with national partners including His
Majesty's Prisons and Probation Service, the National Crime
Agency, local police forces, and intelligence teams to disrupt
this criminal behaviour and prevent contraband from entering
prison estates. By sharing intelligence and coordinating
operations, we are strengthening our collective response to this
growing threat.”
The latest Safety in Custody statistics, also published today,
highlight the alarming levels of violence across the prison
estate, with 20,570 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults and 10,568
assaults on staff in the 12 months to March 2025. Reducing the
availability of contraband in prisons plays a key role in
reducing violence across the estate.
Earlier this week, a trial into the use of tasers began across
adult male prisons in England and Wales – the first time their
use is being trialled in the prison estate. The Lord Chancellor,
, has also announced the
rollout of protective body armour for those staff working in
prison settings holding the most dangerous offenders.
Notes to editors:
- Drone incidents data is available in the HMPPS Annual Digest
- Latest Safety in Custody statistics are available here
- Night operations at HMP Manchester were conducted in
partnership with the North-West Regional Organised Crime Unit
(NWROCU), Serious & Organised Crime Operations (SOC Ops),
Long Term High Security Prison Group (LTHSPG) and the Counter
Drone Co-Ordination Centre.
- Night operations at HMP Wandsworth were conducted with the
Counter Drone Co-Ordination Centre, SOC Ops, and Metropolitan
Police teams.
