Councillor attacks lax prison security measures

The information comes after it was revealed the Limavady Borough based jail had the highest number of confiscated mobile phones out of all three prisons in Northern Ireland. 174 handsets were taken from inmates since 2005 at Magilligan, adding to the complete total of 321 from the jails. 130 phones were confiscated at Maghaberry and 17 at Hydebank Wood. Declining to comment on whether it would review the County Londonderry jail's approach to tackling the problem, the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) said Magilligan had a "comprehensive" set of search arrangements in place at the prison.

A NIPS spokesperson stated: "Detection of mobile phones is a high priority for staff when carrying out searches. The Northern Ireland Prison Service has a comprehensive set of search arrangements in place which includes the use of specialist search staff, modern detection devices and specially trained dogs. NIPS continues to have significant success in detecting not only mobile phones, but other forms of contraband, including drugs."

In reference to the high number, the Prison Service spokesperson added that both prisoners and visitors were prepared to go to "extreme lengths" to smuggle in the phones.

"The most common method of smuggling contraband into prisons is via visitors. Some visitors and prisoners are prepared to go to extreme lengths to avoid contraband being detected, including concealment in body cavities. Those caught smuggling illicit items into prison are reported to the PSNI and can face substantial penalties, including imprisonment.

The Prison Service also said fewer contraband items are found in Northern Ireland prison establishments than elsewhere in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Under the Criminal Justice Order (2008) it is an offence for any person to bring a mobile phone into a prison without the permission of the Governor. The offence is punishable by up to two years imprisonment and a fine. Any visitor caught attempting to bring a mobile phone in will be arrested and dealt with by the PSNI. Prison rules state that an inmate found to be in possession of a mobile phone will be charged with an offence and dealt with by the Governor. UUC Councillor Leslie Cubitt said the statistics represented a "lax" towards security throughout Northern Ireland's jails.

"These figures show just how lax our prisons are in terms of security. If people are able to smuggle in mobile phones to prisoners, who is to say they wouldn't be able to smuggle in a gun?"

Councillor Cubitt concluded: "I feel there needs to be a screening process in place inside prisons just like the one in place at our airports. It would be money well spent rather than the millions that might be used to provide ensuites in jail cells."