Mobile phone was found hidden in prisoner’s hair

Jail staff discovered a mobile phone hidden in a prisoner’s hair, a report has revealed. The device was one of scores found at Rochester prison, which is using specialist equipment to help identify illicit handsets.

In its 2017-18 annual report, the Kent jail’s Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) said the introduction of “detector poles” has proved a useful tool in curtailing the use of mobiles.

The IMB flagged up the “openness” of the Rochester site, saying drugs and mobile phones mainly enter via packages coming over the walls.

Security personnel estimate that they are intercepting around half of all items thrown into the prison.