- UK to learn from Ukrainian tech expertise to crush drone
smuggling behind bars
- New £6.5million investment to accelerate anti-drone prison
research
- Part of historic 100 Year Partnership to drive security and
prosperity in UK & Ukraine
The Deputy Prime Minister has tasked the Ministry of
Justice with learning from Ukraine's battlefield expertise, to
harness their wartime innovation and tackle the scourge of prison
drones.
The Government will look to apply battle-tested tactics used
against Russian drone forces, adapted to protect UK prisons, as
part of a new security drive to crackdown on criminals who use
drones to smuggle drugs, weapons and mobile phones behind bars.
The UK has provided assistance to ensure Ukraine is at the
forefront of drone and counter drone technology, having committed
a record £350 million in 2025 to bolster their supply of drones
from a target of 10,000 in 2024 to 100,000 by the end of December
2025.
The Deputy Prime Minister made the announcement following
meetings with President Zelenskyy and Deputy Defence Minister
Yurii Myronenko, while representing the UK at an international
conference in Kyiv, to mark the first anniversary of the UK
Government's 100-Year Partnership with Ukraine.
To coincide with this, UK Research and Innovation has announced
an additional £6.5 million to help accelerate anti-drone research
and development. This is part of a cross-government initiative to
test next-generation technology, that would allow prison staff to
detect and bring down illegal drones out of the sky.
The Ministry of Justice is working with UK Defence Innovation and
UK Research and Innovation to launch high-stakes competitions
challenging international businesses – including those from
Britain and Ukraine – to develop cutting-edge technologies to
help counter the scourge of illegal drones and drugs behind bars.
Deputy Prime Minister said:
“Ukraine's uniquely advanced and battle-tested anti-drone
technology will help us tackle the challenges we face at home.
“I've tasked British prisons with learning from Ukraine's drone
expertise. We know prison drones pose a direct threat to national
security and that's why we're acting decisively to tackle these
gangs by investing millions in security and cutting-edge
technology.
"This is yet another prime example of how our work abroad is
benefitting people at home."
The latest stats show there were 1,712 drone incidents between
April 2024 and March 2025 at prisons across England and Wales.
The number of incidents at prisons involving drones skyrocketed
by 770% between 2019 and 2023, with the devices increasingly
being used by organised crime groups to smuggle contraband and
fuel violence behind bars.
Government competitions will open the door to the world's top
technology businesses to pitch breakthrough solutions to
Government as part of its drive to deliver safer streets.
This challenge is part of the Ministry of Justice's wider
ambition to engage with industry to source innovative security
solutions. It follows a recent tech showcase where businesses
presented cutting-edge technologies to ministers, aimed at
tackling prison violence, improving monitoring and strengthening
frontline security.
This is in addition to a £40 million boost to bolster prison
security this year, including £10 million on anti-drone measures
such as exterior netting and reinforced windows.
