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Written Question
Prisons: Mobile Phones
Tuesday 19th June 2018

Asked by: Lord McLoughlin (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to tackle the problem of mobile phones into prisons.

Answered by Rory Stewart

The illicit use of mobile phones can pose a significant threat and undermine the safety and security of our prisons. For example, they can be used to convey other illicit items into prisons, such as drugs. We are taking urgent and decisive action to tackle this threat.

The Government is supporting the Prisons (Interference with Wireless Telegraphy) Bill 2017, a Private Members Bill introduced by Maria Caulfield MP, which will enable mobile network operators to support solutions to stop illicit phones working in prisons. The bill is due to have its remaining stages debated on Friday 6th July.

We have also invested £2 million in detection technology and conduct intelligence-led searches. We also continue to utilise Telecommunications Restriction Orders to block specific mobile phones being used in prisons.