Battle over social media inside prisons

Figures for prisoner online profiles deactivated rises by fourfold as more mobile phones smuggled into jails

Prisons have been forced to shut down hundreds of social media accounts run by inmates as more mobile phones are smuggled into jails. The number of Facebook, Instagram and Youtube profiles deactivated at the request of prisons has almost quadrupled in three years.

PRISONS have been forced to shut down hundreds of social media accounts run by inmates amid the rise in the number of mobile phones being smuggled into jails.

The number of Facebook, Instagram and Youtube profiles deactivated at the request of prison authorities has almost quadrupled in three years.

More than 1,700 accounts were removed from 2015 to last year, with the bulk of cases triggered by prisoners using illicit mobiles to upload content themselves. Removals are also sought when video or images captured in jail, or messages sent from behind bars, are posted by people on the outside.

The Prison Officers Association warned that the “shocking” figures risked undermining confidence in the criminal justice system, while the Prison Service said it works closely with social media companies to close accounts used by prisoners.

Figures on social media accounts removed after being identified by HM Prison and Probation Service were released by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) following a freedom of informa- tion (FOI) request.

The number of removals increased in each of the four years for which data was provided, with 153 in 2015, followed by 462 in 2016, 527 in 2017 and 594 last year. In total, 1,736 accounts were taken offline, with 1,121 – or nearly two-thirds – removed in 2017 and 2018.

The FOI response said the figures include, but are not limited to, accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube.

The MOJ declined to provide a detailed breakdown of the cases by jail or social media platform because it said that could prejudice the prevention or detection of crime and maintenance of security and order in prisons.

Glyn Travis, of the Prison Officers Association, said: “The POA is not surprised by the shocking statistics which highlight the growing problems of prisoners using technology in prisons.

“The use of social media sites on illegal phones by prisoners can only undermine public confidence in the criminal justice system.

“These sites continue to be accessed and prisoners are taunting victims, intimidating witnesses and organising criminal activity from the safety of a prison cell.”

Alex Mayes, of the charity Victim Support, said victims “may feel unsafe knowing that the perpetrator could potentially contact them or their family and friends.

“Victims should feel most safe when the perpetrator is serving their sentence and this news could leave them feeling that justice has not been fully served.”

Authorities have identified the illegal use of smartphones as one of the most significant threats faced by jails.

In the 12 months to March last year, there were 10,643 incidents where mobile phones were found in prisons in England and Wales, a 15 per cent increase compared with the previous year.

Criminal gangs have deployed a range of tactics to exploit the lucrative contraband market behind bars.

A Prison Service spokesman said: “We do not tolerate the use of mobile phones in our jails and we work closely with social media companies to close accounts being used by prisoners.

“We are investing millions in body scanners, phone-blocking technology and other measures to prevent phones being smuggled into and used in prison.”

He added: “Any prisoner found with a mobile phone faces extra time behind bars.”