Astonishing 437 illegal contraband phones confiscated from open prison – which houses 470 inmates
- The astonishing haul was discovered at HMP Kirkham an investigation revealed
- Mobiles are prized possessions in jails, with devised sold for upwards £1,000
Guards found an astonishing 437 contraband mobiles in an open prison this year.
The haul was discovered at HMP Kirkham, which houses 470 inmates, an investigation revealed.
Mobiles are among the most prized possessions in jails, with many smuggled in by drones or visitors. Illicit devices can sell for upwards of £1,000 inside.
Among the most prized is the 2.8in-long Zanco Fly phone – the world’s smallest mobile.
The Independent Monitoring Board discovered the number of phones found at Kirkham had shot up from 271 last year.
Inspectors said a failure to install in-cell landline phones – which many jails have – was one reason for the high demand.
Mobiles are among the most prized possessions in jails, with many smuggled in by drones or visitors (Stock Image)
The haul was discovered at HMP Kirkham, which houses 470 inmates, an investigation revealed (Stock Image)
Among the most prized is the 2.8in-long Zanco Fly phone – the world’s smallest mobile (Stock Image)
The report added: ‘Whilst the pressure on budgets is recognised, this is considered a short-sighted approach, as the rollout of in-cell telephony would go a long way to reducing the level of illicit phones and providing… benefit to the prisoners.’
Phones, of which around 20,000 are found by prison staff in the UK each year, are often ‘hired’ for up to £100 a night.
A prison source said: ‘Phones are very much prized in jails – either to keep in touch with loved ones or to continue criminal enterprises.’
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