Drone carrying drug and mobile phones crashes at Manchester jail

A drone carrying drugs and mobile phones to prisoners inside HMP Manchester has crashed.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed that smugglers tried to navigate the drone into the prison known locally as Strangeways before it crash landed.

Prison officers recovered the drone and contraband which was said to have contained phones and SIM cards.

Prison bosses and officers from GMP are carrying out enquiries. A Prison Service spokesman said: "A drone was successfully intercepted by staff at Manchester prison on Friday 6 November.

"All contraband was seized and handed to the police to investigate. We are strengthening our powers to ensure those found using drones to smuggle material into prison are punished."

Anyone using drones in an attempt to get contraband into prisons can be punished with a sentence of up to two years.

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is introducing new legislation to make it illegal to land a drone in prison or to use a drone to drop in psychoactive substances.

The MOJ takes a zero tolerance approach to illicit material in prisons and work closely with the police and CPS to ensure those caught are prosecuted and face extra time behind bars.