High Security Breach at Belmarsh Prison
High Security Breach at Belmarsh Prison, A significant security lapse has occurred at Belmarsh prison, one of the UK’s most secure facilities, following the discovery of two iPhones in its High Dependency Unit (HDU). This unit is known for housing some of the nation’s most dangerous criminals, including terrorists.
The HDU, often referred to as ‘a prison within a prison’, is equipped with 48 single cells, 12 of which are reserved for high-risk inmates. These cells, part of the Special Secure Unit (SSU), are designed for prisoners considered ‘exceptional risks’. Notable past residents of the HDU include gangster Colin Gunn and Michael Adebolajo, the murderer of Fusilier Rigby. More recently, Wayne Couzens, convicted for the murder of Sarah Everard, was also housed here.
The discovery of these internet-ready iPhones, which occurred over a two-week span, marks the first breach of this magnitude in the HDU. The phones, valued between £10,000 and £20,000 each within the prison, pose a significant threat as they could enable inmates to maintain criminal activities from inside the prison.
The first phone was found during a cell search, leading to the inmate being put on report pending further investigation. The second was discovered hidden in a bag of sugar on one of the HDU’s landings. The prison’s security measures, including x-ray machines, CCTV cameras, and multiple locked doors, are now under scrutiny to determine how these devices were smuggled in.
This incident raises concerns about the ability of high-profile crime bosses to direct criminal activities from behind bars. A 2018 report highlighted a similar case where Darren Dunn orchestrated a drug smuggling operation using a contraband iPhone from his cell.
A study by the Multi-Agency Response to Serious and Organised Crime (Marsoc) in 2022 revealed that a significant portion of organized crime groups in England and Wales are managed from prison, primarily using mobile phones.
John Podmore, a former governor at Belmarsh, emphasized the challenge of preventing crime within prisons and the need for proactive measures. The police’s limited response to in-prison crimes further complicates this issue.
The Prison Service has initiated an investigation into this breach, highlighting the ongoing struggle to maintain security within high-risk prison environments.
