The UK government has responded to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request regarding the number of drones flown in the vicinity of prisons in England and Wales.
The government cited Ministry of Justice figures for the number of drones spotted, rising from 122 in 2019 to 1063 in 2023. The 2023 total was a substantial increase over the previous year when 478 were “sighted or reported”.
These figures have been released under the UK’s FOI Act because the government believes the data to be in the public interest. “Disclosure would provide greater transparency and enable the public to be made aware of any drone activity at specific prisons,” the statement reads. “This could increase the public’s operational understanding of how establishments maintain good order and security in prisons. It is important that the public have confidence in the operation of the prison system and there is a public interest in ensuring that drone incidents are being actioned in an efficient and in an effective manner in compliance with formal operational standards and procedures.”
The government decided not to disclose the specific prisons where drones had been recorded, noting that it “would be likely to be used to subvert the effectiveness of our current counter measures at specific prisons”. Indeed, if details on drone incidents detected at specific prisons were to be released, including the actions taken during a drone incident, criminals could alter their behaviour to avoid detection.
It is worth noting that in January 2024, the UK established 400 metre flight restriction zones around all closed prisons and young offender institutions in England and Wales. These FRZ disrupt illegal drone use by strengthening the authority to intercept illicit items entering prisons and enabling the police to fine or prosecute those seeking to undermine prison security. It will be interesting to see how this move impacts the reported sightings figures for 2024.
Since June 2016, police and prison staff in England and Wales have worked collaboratively to make over 70 drone-related convictions amassing a total of more than 240 years behind bars for those who broke the law.
For more information
UK government guidance on drone use around prisons
Image: Ministry of Justice
