Halting drone drops is first step in work to reform criminals

Daily Express readers will have been as outraged as I was this week to see reports of drones delivering drugs and weapons into our prisons. Social media footage shows how easy it is for these remote-controlled devices to put contraband into the hands of prisoners.

- James Timpson

While I share the public's anger, I can't say I'm surprised. In just five years, drone sightings around prisons have increased by a massive 770%. That's five years under the last Conservative government, with the security of our prisons - and our country - dangerously exposed. These drones aren't just a nuisance - the illicit items they fly into our prisons have a devastating effect on our ability to keep staff safe and cut crime.

Almost half of all prisoners are known to have a drug problem, which very often drives their offending. Prisons work hard to get offenders to clean up their act, but it's an uphill battle. Drone deliveries keep them hooked on drugs, so they are more likely to fall back into crime on release. And weapons fuel violence, putting inmates and staff at risk of harm.

Under these conditions, it's no wonder so few jails can do proper rehabilitation work to get prisoners' lives back on track. The knock-on effects are clear: around 80% of offenders in our country are reoffenders.

Since taking office, the Government has been working hard to tackle drones.