Prison service tackling drones
A number of technological options are being explored to combat drones flying over Cork Prison, the Cork Independent has learned.
The Irish Prison Service (IPS) said it is aware of an increase in the use of drones over the past couple of years and measures are in place to counteract it.
Existing measures include regular patrols by staff, monitoring of cameras and exercise yards with fitted netting to prevent contraband being dropped or thrown into that area.
The IPS said it is also exploring a number of technology options to deal with the problem across the country all of its prisons, including the one in Cork.
It comes after a recent community forum in St Lukes when the issue of a drone flying near a woman’s house was brought the attention of officials.
While another resident said it could be harmless and taking scenic photography, gardaí at the meeting mentioned that it could it heading for Cork Prison, too, given its proximity to St Lukes.
The Cork Independent contacted the IPS about the issue of drones. A spokesman for the IPS said that stopping contraband coming into prisons remains a “high priority” for the IPS.
He said: “Concerted efforts are made on a continuous basis to prevent the flow of drugs into our prisons, by for example, the installation of nets over exercise yards, vigilant observation of prisoners by staff, enhanced CCTV monitoring, the stricter control of visits and the use of targeted and random cell searches on a daily basis. As well as this the introduction of passive and active drug detection dogs and the installation of airport style security including scanners and x-ray machines has helped efforts to tackle the problem. Random searches of cells and their occupants have uncovered significant quantities of contraband in recent years.”
However, he also said that the IPS recognises that constant improvements are required in this area. Additional security measures aimed a further enhancing the security of prisons have been introduced including the setting up of a free confidential telephone line.
“Prisoner, visitors, staff or members of the public with information on the trafficking of prohibited items into Irish prisons can pass on that information in the strictest confidence,” added the spokesman.
The confidential line was introduced to provide members of the general public and prisoners with a means to call the prison service with information about any matter relating to smuggling or attempts at smuggling of prohibited articles such as drugs, weapon and mobile phones.