Inspector fears drones could be dropping guns into jails

Guns could be delivered by drones into jails already riven by drug-related gang wars amid an "inadequate" response from the prison service, the chief inspector of prisons has said.

- Rajeev Syal

Charlie Taylor said the surge in use of large unmanned aerial vehicles was his "number one concern" and had increased the possibility that firearms would be used to settle turf wars or in escape attempts.

Official figures show the number of drone incidents at prisons in England and Wales has risen tenfold since 2020 to 1,063 incursions last year.

In an interview, Taylor said his concerns had been heightened after inspectors found drones in constant use at HMP Manchester, which houses prisoners considered a risk to the public. He said: "The risk of drugs, plus other sorts of contraband, is huge. There is the destabilising effect of drugs in prison, so prison-ers under the influence, but also debt, which equals violence, and the dominance of organised crime.