Jail bosses are on alert after a number of seizures of lock knives. The security warnings were issued before the knife murder of an inmate at Pentonville prison. A Daily Star investigation has revealed unreported drone operations involving weapons.
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ALERT: Deadly knives are being smuggled into prisons by drone
In the latest, a drone was used to fly a lock knife into Risley prison in Cheshire on October 2. The 20cm knife was found behind a pipe in a shower area. It is believed to have been ordered using a smuggled mobile and flown in by drone.
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The use of drones to smuggle weapons in such a small area is worrying
Glyn Travis
An internal memo says: Recent intelligence has been received suggesting that this and other similar types of weapons may be coming into the establishment via drones. A source said: The use of a manufactured hunting knife in a jail murder is horrific.
Intelligence suggests these weapons are being brought in via drones for big money.
Criminal gangs can make hundreds of pounds for one knife.
They can cause carnage. Last month, a drone was used to fly a set of six-inch lock knives into Altcourse jail.
The weapons were hidden in gutters above units at the G4S privately-run prison in Merseyside. And in neighbouring HMP Liverpool there were two incidents within 24 hours.
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LOCKED UP: A drone was used to fly a lock knife into Risley prison in Cheshire on October 2
On September 30, following a tip-off, officers found a drone on the roof. It had a hi-tech camera and battery, but no package was found.
It is believed it may have been carrying weapons, which had been grabbed by lags. The next day a drone was seen flying over the exercise yard at the jail at 11pm.
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WARNING: The warnings were issued before the knife murder of an inmate at Pentonville prison
Guards believed it dropped a package or delivered it straight to a cell window. Glyn Travis, from the Prison Officers Association, said: The use of drones to smuggle weapons in such a small area is worrying.
“This is not a coincidence and I believe that lock knives, other weapons and contraband are being ordered and smuggled into jail. He added: Lock knives in the wrong hands can cause carnage and have massive security implications.
Because of cuts and staff shortages, preventing all types of smuggling is getting harder.
We need more prison officers now.
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