Prisons: Mobile Phones
(asked on 16th December 2015) - View Source
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2015 to Question 18875, in which prisons each of those mobile telephones and sim cards were detected in each of those years; and what the number of such detections was per prisoner in each of those years.
Mobile phones have no place in our prisons and we have invested in technology to prevent their use. But more needs to be done, and we will look at new ways of finding and blocking them. It is a criminal offence to possess a mobile phone or component part in a prison.
The Chancellor announced in the spending review that we will invest in more safety improvements to stamp out the organisation of crime from within prisons, including funding for tackling illicit mobile phones and investing in body scanners.
The table below provides the number of ‘‘finds’ of mobile phones and/or SIM cards reported by each prison between April 2010, when recording started, and December 2014. One ‘find’ may constitute a handset containing one SIM card or media card, a handset only, or a SIM card only.
Table: Number of mobile phone and SIM card finds broken down by prison.
ESTABLISHMENT | 2010* | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2010*-2014 total |
ACKLINGTON | 63 | 28 | - | - | - | 91 |
ALBANY | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | - | 7 |
ALTCOURSE (C) | 790 | 609 | 534 | 290 | 689 | 2912 |
ASHFIELD(C) | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
ASHWELL | 2 | 7 | - | - | - | 9 |
ASKHAM GRANGE | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
AYLESBURY | 278 | 97 | 29 | 176 | 130 | 710 |
BEDFORD | 27 | 55 | 29 | 53 | 28 | 192 |
BELMARSH | 15 | 25 | 9 | 126 | 180 | 355 |
BIRMINGHAM (C) | 248 | 537 | 302 | 133 | 140 | 1360 |
BLANTYRE HOUSE | 19 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 52 |
BLUNDESTON | 27 | 1 | 11 | 6 | - | 45 |
BRINSFORD | 12 | 76 | 45 | 182 | 200 | 515 |
BRISTOL | 54 | 33 | 26 | 32 | 37 | 182 |
BRIXTON | 46 | 67 | 28 | 23 | 41 | 205 |
BRONZEFIELD(C) | 34 | 12 | 3 | 13 | 18 | 80 |
BUCKLEY HALL | 11 | 22 | 149 | 111 | 197 | 490 |
BULLINGDON | 42 | 16 | 6 | 23 | 51 | 138 |
BULLWOOD HALL | 1 | 8 | 15 | 1 | - | 25 |
BURE | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
CAMP HILL | 98 | 52 | 22 | 1 | - | 173 |
CANTERBURY | 22 | 10 | 21 | 7 | - | 60 |
CARDIFF | 19 | 36 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 85 |
CASTINGTON | 10 | 11 | - | - | - | 21 |
CHANNINGS WOOD | 64 | 63 | 15 | 39 | 34 | 215 |
CHELMSFORD | 42 | 38 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 99 |
COLDINGLEY | 37 | 52 | 42 | 106 | 34 | 271 |
COOKHAM WOOD | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
DARTMOOR | 27 | 16 | 2 | 11 | 42 | 98 |
DEERBOLT | 3 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 25 | 49 |
DONCASTER(C) | 15 | 6 | 24 | 182 | 419 | 646 |
DORCHESTER | 20 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 48 |
DOVEGATE (C) | 5 | 24 | 15 | 30 | 51 | 125 |
DOVER | 14 | 21 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 52 |
DOWNVIEW | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
DRAKE HALL | 10 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 19 |
DURHAM | 24 | 41 | 23 | 20 | 0 | 108 |
EAST SUTTON PARK | 1 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 17 |
EASTWOOD PARK | 3 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 28 |
EDMUNDS HILL | 25 | 22 | - | - | - | 47 |
ELMLEY | 45 | 47 | 53 | 103 | 308 | 556 |
ERLESTOKE | 62 | 176 | 137 | 98 | 83 | 556 |
EVERTHORPE | 50 | 32 | 26 | 45 | 19 | 172 |
EXETER | 14 | 21 | 15 | 16 | 7 | 73 |
FEATHERSTONE | 39 | 29 | 133 | 42 | 128 | 371 |
FELTHAM | 84 | 65 | 45 | 22 | 27 | 243 |
FORD | 61 | 250 | 200 | 202 | 270 | 983 |
FOREST BANK (C) | 122 | 37 | 105 | 165 | 258 | 687 |
FOSTON HALL | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 11 |
FRANKLAND | 6 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 20 |
FULL SUTTON | 10 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 10 | 35 |
GARTH | 76 | 32 | 39 | 33 | 36 | 216 |
GARTREE | 14 | 22 | 65 | 57 | 20 | 178 |
GLEN PARVA | 2 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 21 |
GLOUCESTER | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | - | 8 |
GRENDON | 17 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 31 |
GUYS MARSH | 77 | 182 | 175 | 54 | 75 | 563 |
HASLAR | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
HATFIELD | 10 | 58 | 154 | 96 | 104 | 422 |
HAVERIGG | 107 | 134 | 291 | 172 | 95 | 799 |
HEWELL | 76 | 289 | 335 | 166 | 366 | 1232 |
HIGHDOWN | 23 | 68 | 49 | 61 | 164 | 365 |
HIGHPOINT | 80 | 55 | 180 | 203 | 214 | 732 |
HINDLEY | 1 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 21 |
HOLLESLEY BAY | 193 | 129 | 90 | 120 | 59 | 591 |
HOLLOWAY | 7 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 37 |
HOLME HOUSE | 18 | 15 | 5 | 9 | 105 | 152 |
HULL | 23 | 25 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 65 |
HUNTERCOMBE | 2 | 36 | 9 | 26 | 34 | 107 |
ISIS | 8 | 52 | 39 | 18 | 4 | 121 |
ISLE OF WIGHT | - | - | - | 0 | 4 | 4 |
KENNET | 4 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 35 | 61 |
KINGSTON | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 6 |
KIRKHAM | 273 | 390 | 493 | 488 | 526 | 2170 |
KIRKLEVINGTON GRANGE | 13 | 15 | 19 | 9 | 19 | 75 |
LANCASTER CASTLE | 18 | - | - | - | - | 18 |
LANCASTER FARMS | 89 | 79 | 25 | 117 | 92 | 402 |
LATCHMERE HOUSE | 69 | 40 | - | - | - | 109 |
LEEDS | 53 | 59 | 27 | 8 | 7 | 154 |
LEICESTER | 27 | 26 | 15 | 9 | 24 | 101 |
LEWES | 38 | 46 | 30 | 51 | 140 | 305 |
LEYHILL | 83 | 27 | 30 | 49 | 42 | 231 |
LINCOLN | 28 | 33 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 69 |
LINDHOLME | 164 | 96 | 145 | 63 | 70 | 538 |
LITTLEHEY | 13 | 34 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 60 |
LIVERPOOL | 138 | 118 | 88 | 65 | 15 | 424 |
LONG LARTIN | 12 | 31 | 77 | 28 | 34 | 182 |
LOW NEWTON | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
LOWDHAM GRANGE (C) | 27 | 10 | 26 | 24 | 2 | 89 |
MAIDSTONE | 6 | 34 | 22 | 26 | 38 | 126 |
MANCHESTER | 41 | 36 | 23 | 12 | 8 | 120 |
MOORLAND | 111 | 65 | 13 | 20 | 52 | 261 |
MOORLAND OPEN | 10 | - | - | - | - | 10 |
MORTON HALL | 0 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 16 |
MOUNT | 86 | 78 | 182 | 220 | 111 | 677 |
NEW HALL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
NORTH SEA CAMP | 86 | 63 | 67 | 61 | 48 | 325 |
NORTHALLERTON | 0 | 7 | 3 | 11 | - | 21 |
NORTHUMBERLAND (C) | - | 15 | 109 | 130 | 170 | 424 |
NORWICH | 30 | 15 | 11 | 18 | 66 | 140 |
NOTTINGHAM | 11 | 38 | 17 | 16 | 136 | 218 |
OAKWOOD (C) | 0 | 0 | 33 | 194 | 181 | 408 |
ONLEY | 53 | 68 | 65 | 85 | 197 | 468 |
PARC (C) | 32 | 79 | 16 | 16 | 30 | 173 |
PARKHURST | 6 | 8 | 20 | 16 | - | 50 |
PENTONVILLE | 207 | 199 | 124 | 149 | 282 | 961 |
PETERBOROUGH (C) | 141 | 145 | 60 | 44 | 51 | 441 |
PORTLAND | 24 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 51 |
PRESCOED | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 19 |
PRESTON | 18 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 98 | 152 |
RANBY | 90 | 124 | 300 | 229 | 261 | 1004 |
READING | 12 | 25 | 7 | 5 | - | 49 |
RISLEY | 72 | 12 | 37 | 84 | 30 | 235 |
ROCHESTER | 6 | 10 | 23 | 60 | 145 | 244 |
RYE HILL (C) | 42 | 79 | 70 | 113 | 71 | 375 |
SEND | 3 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 47 |
SHEPTON MALLET | 3 | 7 | 4 | 1 | - | 15 |
SHREWSBURY | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 3 |
SPRING HILL | 12 | 13 | 34 | 117 | 104 | 280 |
STAFFORD | 12 | 69 | 14 | 70 | 7 | 172 |
STANDFORD HILL | 150 | 186 | 127 | 270 | 159 | 892 |
STOCKEN | 26 | 12 | 30 | 11 | 38 | 117 |
STOKE HEATH | 8 | 28 | 19 | 44 | 100 | 199 |
STYAL | 7 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 10 | 46 |
SUDBURY | 72 | 120 | 124 | 134 | 102 | 552 |
SWALESIDE | 100 | 58 | 107 | 103 | 241 | 609 |
SWANSEA | 2 | 0 | 1 | 61 | 2 | 66 |
SWINFEN HALL | 32 | 44 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 118 |
THAMESIDE (C) | 0 | 0 | 8 | 98 | 33 | 139 |
THORN CROSS | 74 | 79 | 84 | 109 | 141 | 487 |
USK | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
VERNE | 67 | 144 | 161 | 50 | 3 | 425 |
WAKEFIELD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 14 |
WANDSWORTH | 157 | 131 | 119 | 119 | 163 | 689 |
WARREN HILL | 5 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 21 |
WAYLAND | 20 | 30 | 17 | 15 | 34 | 116 |
WEALSTUN | 57 | 145 | 155 | 120 | 330 | 807 |
WELLINGBOROUGH | 61 | 195 | 181 | 1 | - | 438 |
WERRINGTON | 12 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 38 |
WETHERBY | 5 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 16 |
WHATTON | 9 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 18 |
WHITEMOOR | 18 | 28 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 73 |
WINCHESTER | 39 | 3 | 31 | 21 | 9 | 103 |
WOLDS | 104 | 96 | 44 | 23 | 54 | 321 |
WOODHILL | 4 | 58 | 74 | 64 | 74 | 274 |
WORMWOOD SCRUBS | 141 | 267 | 39 | 128 | 248 | 823 |
WYMOTT | 58 | 50 | 11 | 34 | 52 | 205 |
Subtotal | 6758 | 7786 | 7301 | 7451 | 9745 |
*April to December only.
(C) denotes a privately operated prison
Note: The following prisons closed during the reporting period:
HMP Ashwell - April 2011
HMP Lancaster Castle - March 2011
HMP Latchmere House - April 2012
HMP Wellingborough - December 2012
HMP Bullwood Hall - March 2013
HMP Canterbury - March 2013
HMP Gloucester - March 2013
HMP Kingston - March 2013
HMP Shepton Mallet - March 2013
HMP Dorchester - January 2014
HMP Shrewsbury - March 2013
HMP Camp Hill - March 2013
HMP Blundeston - January 2014
HMP Northallerton - January 2014
HMP Reading - January 2014
HMYOI Moorland Open was renamed HMYOI Hatfield in the autumn of 2010
HMPs Acklington and Castington became HMP Northumberland in October 2011
HMP Edmunds Hill merged into HMP Highpoint in July 2012
HMPs Albany and Parkhurst became HMP Isle of Wight in February 2013
All figures in this answer have been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time.Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. The data are not subject to audit.
We do not collect data on the number of detections of mobile phones and SIM cards in a way that would enable us to provide a meaningful rate of detection per prisoner.