Bid to block phone use behind bars

New measures to block the use of mobile phones in Scotland’s prisons are set to be outlined by the justice secretary.

Michael Matheson will appear before Holyrood’s justice committee today to put forward new regulations to stop mobiles being used to coordinate illegal activity.

The plans include the use of technology to block active phones in prisons and allowing court orders to remove phones from the network entirely.

Mr Matheson said: “The unauthorised use of mobile phones in prisons potentially presents a serious threat to both the security of prisons and the wider public.

“The Scottish Government has already made changes to the law to create offences for the possession and introduction of mobile phones or their component parts to prisons and to allow interference with networks within two prisons to disrupt phone use. These regulations will further support our commitment to reducing the harm caused by illegal activity within our prisons.

“The irresponsible and illegal use of phones also causes offence to victims of crime and we are taking steps to reduce their use.”