Prisoners: Mobile Phones
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners have been convicted of possessing, without authority, a mobile phone inside a prison in the past year.
Answered by Jake Richards
The Ministry of Justice does not hold data on the number of convictions of prisoners in possession, without authority, of a mobile phone inside a prison.
Illicit mobile phones enable serious criminality and harm which impacts both prisons and the community, including drug supply, violence and harassment of victims and witnesses. £35 million is being invested this year on improving security across 17 of our most at-risk prisons, building on over £40 million already invested.
Prisons have a variety of equipment to prevent the smuggling and use of illicit mobile including X-ray body scanners and Enhanced Gate Security such as archway, handheld metal detectors and X-ray baggage scanners, and improved netting and grilles.
Prisoners caught with devices or smuggling illicit items can face extra time in custody and the loss of privileges. The most serious crimes, including those where a mobile phone is being used to coordinate criminal activity, are also referred to the police in line with the Crime in Prisons Referral Agreement.
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