Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Prison Smuggling: Drones 2026-06-30

Tuesday 30 June 2026 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister of State for Justice announced 40 million investment for prison security, including 10 million for counter-drone measures.
  • Government is working with the UK defence innovation fund on an international business competition to develop counter-drone measures.
  • Police and crime commissioner for Lancashire invested in counter-drone units that jam signals, leading to criminal arrests.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Julie Minns Lab Carlisle
Justice & Courts
Context

Smuggling of contraband by drones into prisons is a growing threat, necessitating increased investment in prison security.

Question

What steps he is taking to help tackle the smuggling of contraband by drones into prisons. He noted that one of his first actions as Secretary of State for Justice was announcing £40 million extra investment for prison security, including £10 million for counter-drone measures like netting and wire.

Answer from David Lammy

One of the first things I announced when appointed as the Secretary of State for Justice was a £40 million extra investment to strengthen prison security, including £10 million for counter-drone measures such as netting and wire. I recently visited Woodhill prison to look at how we are tackling this growing threat and committed a further £35 million to install heavy-duty grilles on windows at 17 of our most high-risk prison sites.

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Q2 Julie Minns Lab Carlisle
Policing & Resources Justice & Courts Defence
Context

The war in Ukraine has accelerated the development of drone technology, affecting how contraband is smuggled into prisons.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend outline what learnings the Government have taken from international expertise to develop and shape counter-drone measures in UK prisons? He mentioned a visit to Ukraine where he discussed working with the UK defence innovation fund on an international business competition for Prison Service technology.

Answer from David Lammy

My hon. Friend knows that, because of the war in Ukraine, drone technology is moving at pace. That is why, when I was in Ukraine in January, we announced that we are working with the UK defence innovation fund—an innovative fund—to set up an international business competition to ensure that the Prison Service keeps up at pace with moving technology. We are also working with our French and Italian colleagues, who are experiencing the same threat.

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Q3 Andrew Snowden Con Fylde
Policing & Resources Justice & Courts
Context

Drones are being used by criminal gangs to smuggle contraband into open prisons, such as Kirkham prison in Fylde.

Question

The use of drones by criminal gangs to smuggle contraband into prisons is a concern, especially in open prisons. The police and crime commissioner for Lancashire invested in counter-drone units that jam drone signals, forcing them to return to their point of origin, often leading the police to criminals. Will the Secretary of State consider working closely with police forces deploying this technology to use it more broadly?

Answer from David Lammy

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. The director-general of the National Crime Agency has directed police chiefs to work with the Prison Service to jointly tackle the threat from criminal drones. We saw that recently in a large-scale joint operation that resulted in more than 200 arrests. He is absolutely right; that blocking technology is available to the system.

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