Organised Crime Unit in England and Wales Prisons Expanded to Combat Gang Activity
Prison Service intensifies efforts against growing influence of gangs utilizing drones and orchestrating violence.
The Prison Service in England and Wales is expanding its serious organised crime unit to address the rising influence of gangs within prisons.
This move comes in response to increasing concerns about the use of drones and drug-related violence, as indicated by prisons minister James Timpson.
Timpson highlighted that a minority of prison officers have been manipulated by criminal organizations, which poses significant risks within the prison system.
He concurred with the prison watchdog's concerns regarding the use of drones by gangs, acknowledging them as a 'national security threat' due to their role in transporting weapons and drugs into high-security facilities.
The expanded crime unit will work more closely with the National Crime Agency and regional police forces to monitor and disrupt organized crime activities across the 123 prisons in England and Wales.
As of December 2023, data from His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) estimated that over 10.6% of the more than 87,000 prisoners were involved in organized crime.
The chief inspector of prisons, Charlie Taylor, recently criticized authorities for losing control over the airspace of category A prisons such as HMP Manchester and HMP Long Lartin due to unauthorized drone activities.
In agreement, Timpson noted the longstanding challenge these drones represent, linking them to serious organized crime activities, including drugs, debt, and violence.
Despite acknowledging the issue, Timpson refrained from disclosing the specific new measures being developed to counter drone activity, citing security reasons.
However, a notable increase in drone incidents has been documented, with 1,296 incidents reported in prisons between January and October 2024, marking a tenfold rise since 2020.
Furthermore, Timpson expressed concern over the exploitation of vulnerable inmates by gangs imposing debt from prior cell occupants.
Staff misconduct has also been a significant issue, with a record 165 prison staff dismissed for inappropriate behavior within a year, including offenses like selling drugs and phones to inmates.
An internal counter-corruption unit has been established to address staff collusion with organized crime groups.
Recent incidents underscore these challenges, such as the conviction of Amy Hatfield, a former mental health nursing assistant at HMP Lindholme in South Yorkshire.
Hatfield was sentenced to ten years for her involvement in a drug smuggling operation, orchestrated with an inmate accomplice.
Warning against the deteriorating conditions, three former prison governors compared the situation to Latin American jail systems dominated by gangs, citing the extensive presence of drugs and violence in many UK prisons.
This move comes in response to increasing concerns about the use of drones and drug-related violence, as indicated by prisons minister James Timpson.
Timpson highlighted that a minority of prison officers have been manipulated by criminal organizations, which poses significant risks within the prison system.
He concurred with the prison watchdog's concerns regarding the use of drones by gangs, acknowledging them as a 'national security threat' due to their role in transporting weapons and drugs into high-security facilities.
The expanded crime unit will work more closely with the National Crime Agency and regional police forces to monitor and disrupt organized crime activities across the 123 prisons in England and Wales.
As of December 2023, data from His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) estimated that over 10.6% of the more than 87,000 prisoners were involved in organized crime.
The chief inspector of prisons, Charlie Taylor, recently criticized authorities for losing control over the airspace of category A prisons such as HMP Manchester and HMP Long Lartin due to unauthorized drone activities.
In agreement, Timpson noted the longstanding challenge these drones represent, linking them to serious organized crime activities, including drugs, debt, and violence.
Despite acknowledging the issue, Timpson refrained from disclosing the specific new measures being developed to counter drone activity, citing security reasons.
However, a notable increase in drone incidents has been documented, with 1,296 incidents reported in prisons between January and October 2024, marking a tenfold rise since 2020.
Furthermore, Timpson expressed concern over the exploitation of vulnerable inmates by gangs imposing debt from prior cell occupants.
Staff misconduct has also been a significant issue, with a record 165 prison staff dismissed for inappropriate behavior within a year, including offenses like selling drugs and phones to inmates.
An internal counter-corruption unit has been established to address staff collusion with organized crime groups.
Recent incidents underscore these challenges, such as the conviction of Amy Hatfield, a former mental health nursing assistant at HMP Lindholme in South Yorkshire.
Hatfield was sentenced to ten years for her involvement in a drug smuggling operation, orchestrated with an inmate accomplice.
Warning against the deteriorating conditions, three former prison governors compared the situation to Latin American jail systems dominated by gangs, citing the extensive presence of drugs and violence in many UK prisons.
