The United Kingdom is going to enforce the ban on the use of mobile phones inside jails. According to these plans, mobile phone companies will be required to block prisoners who use illicit handsets behind the bars. The new law is part of the serious crime bill, which was due to be given its second Commons reading by MPs a few days ago.

The officials pointed out that some security measures had led to an increase in seizures of unauthorized handsets inside prisons. However, the new law would further increase the ability of jails to address the problem. The blockage will allow to reassure victims and prevent further criminal activity.

In other words, when an unauthorized phone or SIM card is detected by new equipment, prison authorities can apply for a court order and get the phone disconnected. The court order will be issued without the phone needing to be seized or proof that it was being used by a specific prisoner.

The UK experts confirm that the ban on the use of illicit mobile phones in jails has been on the statute book over the last 7 years. They used different measures to enforce it – for example, body searches, X-ray machines, whole body scanners, metal detectors and CCTV. Over the 2013 alone, about 7,500 mobile phones and SIM cards were seized in prisons, according to the statistics provided by Ministry of Justice.

The officials also explained that the use of unauthorized mobile phones in prisons could lead to bullying and disorder, along with enabling serious and organized criminals to continue with their activities, like drug smuggling, even from prison cells.

It should be noted that the 2012 ban on the use of mobile phones in jails also included powers to block signals, but this measure appeared difficult to enforce, because the block often also covered buildings in the immediate vicinity of the jail.