Police are taking decisive action against organised crime groups using drones to deliver contraband into a category A men’s prison. As part of an initiative to detect and disrupt drone activity in the airspace above HMP Long Lartin and its neighboring villages, a total of seven drones have been confiscated, and 18 individuals have been apprehended.
Nestled in the rural village of South Littleton, near Evesham, HMP Long Lartin, a category A men’s prison, has experienced a surge in drone deliveries in recent years. A drone drop refers to the illicit act of releasing contraband items like drugs and mobile phones into the prison using a hovering drone.
These drops present a significant security threat and exacerbate issues within the facility. Collaborating with the prison, law enforcement is striving to combat these deliveries, which are suspected to be orchestrated by organized crime groups.
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According to Detective Chief Inspector James Bamber of south Worcestershire, “We acknowledge that these drone incursions are also impacting our communities local to HMP Long Lartin. I want to reassure those residents that we are working tirelessly alongside our partners to identify, target, and prosecute the criminals behind these illicit operations. As always, our local communities are our eyes and ears on the ground, and the intelligence we gather from them is invaluable.”
Bamber emphasized the importance of community involvement, urging residents to report any suspicious activity, particularly in relation to drone sightings, as it has directly led to the interception of drones and suspicious vehicles, subsequently resulting in arrests of suspected offenders.
In response to a drone sighting on March 17, West Mercia Police swiftly halted a drone flight circling over the prison, preventing any drop. There are currently nine ongoing investigations into the drone deliveries, resulting in 18 arrests. The individuals have been either bailed or released under investigation.