Security alert at prison holding some of Britain’s worst offenders

A PRISON holding some of Britain’s most dangerous offenders has ‘ unreliable and faulty’ security systems that pose a serious safety risk, an inspection has revealed.

Surveillance technology at HMP Long Lartin, a category A jail, is ‘unserviceable’ and fails to stop drones from carrying drugs and phones into the grounds, according to a report by the prisons watchdog.

It revealed how jail chiefs have even tried to ‘patch up’ faulty kit with scrap parts salvaged from other prisons.

Inspectors said security at the Worcestershire jail needs

‘Technology is unserviceable’

urgent upgrades so wings can be monitored adequately.

Two-thirds of Long Lartin inmates are serving life sentences, with the rest serving terms of ten years or more.

Current prisoners include Vincent Tabak, who kidnapped and murdered Joanna Yeates; Jake Fahri, serving life for the murder of schoolboy Jimmy Mizen; and Suffolk Strangler Steve Wright.

Previous inmates have included murderer Jeremy Bamber, terror preacher Abu Hamza, gangster Charlie Kray and Charles Bronson.

Inspectors from the Independent Monitoring Board called on the Government, Prison Service and the gover

nor at Long Lartin to ‘prioritise’ security at the jail.

They wrote: ‘ Minimal attempts have been made to repair obsolete equipment. At times use has been made of outdated components removed from other prisons.’

The report went on to say drone deliveries of contraband had ‘widened access to

drugs and mobile phones’ in the jail, causing ‘ bullying, instability and violence’.

It said 86 drones had been spotted, with 31 packages ‘intercepted’, and both staff and visitors had been caught bringing illicit items in.

The report added that the Ministry of Justice imposes a spending limit of £750 on

items of basic maintenance, and requests to spend more are ‘often delayed or refused’.

In a note to the prisons minister Edward Argar, the inspectors asked whether funds for a fully operational surveillance system would be provided in the next year.

The correspondence also asked the Prison Service what measures were being taken to install effective equipment.

And they asked Long Lartin’s governor if repairs were to be given high priority.

The Prison Service said the project to ‘replace the main security systems’ at Long Lartin had been ‘suspended, pending a national re-bid’.