Prisoners running crime by mobile phone in Gloucestershire
Problems persist at Gloucestershire jails of cons getting hold of banned mobile phones to direct crime from behind bars.
Despite it being illegal to have a mobile in prison, latest Ministry of Justice (MOJ) figures show 26 phones and 21 SIM cards were confiscated at Gloucester jail over the last 12 months, while 59 handsets and 53 cards were discovered at Leyhill open prison.
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At Eastwood Park women’s prison 10 phones and 13 SIMs were found.
These figures are up on previous year seizures, when 26 phones and cards were confiscated at Gloucester, 30 at Leyhill, and 10 at Eastwood Park.
But the Government admits its own data may not show the true extent of the problem, by underestimating the actual number of finds.
It comes amid continuing concerns that illegal phones are being used by cons to run their criminal empires from behind bars such as drug dealing.
Behind bars, phones can cost £400 each, and the illegal trade in handsets has been estimated to be worth £9 million.
Experts believe three times as many mobile phones are in circulation within prisons as had been confiscated.
New legislation is being introduced to make it illegal to possess one in jail.
It is currently against prison rules for inmates to possess mobile phones in prison.
Inmates found with mobile phones would face prosecution under the measure included in the Crime and Security Bill.
Nationally, the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) said 4,461 handsets and 4,325 cards were recovered in the year to January.
This is compared to 3,910 handsets and 4,189 cards in 2008.
However, the Government acknowledges that the recorded number of phones and SIM cards sent for analysis may not tell the whole story.
In a parliamentary answer, Justice Minister Maria Eagle said: “The figures understate the actual number of finds, because they do not include items retained by the police for evidential purposes, and phones not submitted for other reasons.
“It is not always appropriate to send phones to the central unit and some phones sent are not interrogated. These have not been included in these figures.”
Steps were being taken to improve the accuracy of the data, she said.
13 Comments
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by Mal, Local
Saturday, March 13 2010, 11:32AM
“Is it not possible to install a Faraday Shield,in the form of a metal wallpaper or mesh,to cover all the buildings that house only the prisoners.”
by phone blocker.com, glos
Friday, March 12 2010, 10:47AM
“Gashead, prison bosses are not adverse to using phone blockers, this issue is the software will also block phones nearby, in the case of gloucester prison that would affect a lot of everyday, non convicted mobile phone users. Changing to sentencing for those who are caught smuggling them - whether inmate or visitor is needed. Its an hefty fine and jail sentence if caugt smuggling drugs into prison and mobiles can cause far more damage - inmates have been known to continue running their criminal activities from inside and worse, continue to intimidate and abuse domestic abuse victims who they had been put away to protect.”
by Anon, Cheltenham
Friday, March 12 2010, 10:22AM
“The most likely reason for turning a blind eye to the use of mobiles is that the prison authorities can use eavesdropping equipment to listen in for incriminating conversations.”
by pabbs, glos
Friday, March 12 2010, 10:14AM
“@ S ! what a snake”
by s, glos
Friday, March 12 2010, 10:00AM
“Making phonecalls is only part of the problem.There are many people who are in prison who also have set up facebook accounts through their phones.Many people i know even have photographs on their profiles clearly showing them in their cells or even on the prison landing with other prisoners !Using facebook is a better way to pass messages as there is a private mail function so these messages can never be discovered ,also its a lot cheaper it only costs 50p a day to access your face book account through your phone.”
by Gashead, Gloucester
Friday, March 12 2010, 9:57AM
“One of the main problems of detecting these mobiles, is that the prisoners, hide them inside their person 'No Man's Land ' Prisons do use body search seats & hand held metal detectors which detect metal in the body, and phone detectors, but when found can not force, the prisoners to push them out, (i.e. Human Rights ) only segregate the one's caught, until they do hand them over. A mobile-phone blocker would be the answer, but their introduction is being held up, by the prison bosses for some unknown reasons. Unless it's because GCHQ can monitor the call & texts, plus the phone & simcard can give out a lot of information, when retrieved.”
by Sue Issidle, Glos
Friday, March 12 2010, 8:56AM
“In an emergency, the jammer can just be switched off.
We put a man on the moon forty years ago, surely we can crack this one, if we want to, that is!”
by A. Lag, Cell Block H
Friday, March 12 2010, 8:43AM
“This is simply not true
{sent by my blackberry}”
by Nobby, Gloucester
Friday, March 12 2010, 8:39AM
“Sarah, the prison could simply use 'Airwave' the police's dedicated mobile channel which would get them access to the outside world in an emergency. Also there are ways BT can provide a dual supply & hide phone lines to avoid being cut. There really is no reason why prisoners should be able to make calls other than using an internal payphone using their own top up phonecard system.
Will a prison officer comment?”
by JimTheGlawsFan, Gloucester
Friday, March 12 2010, 8:26AM
“I'm with you Nobby, have a jammer that just makes them worthless. As for emergency use, I'm sure there would be plenty of ways other than a phone call to instigate that!”