PRISON OFFICERS ARE CALLING FOR THE INSTALLATION OF MORE MOBILE PHONE BLOCKING EQUIPMENT IN JAILS
Ministry of Justice figures show up to 3,500 phones were smuggled into England and Wales jails in the last year.
Prison Officers Association (POA) head Brian Caton said inmates ran criminal activities using the phones, and they could arrange attacks on prison staff.
The Prison Service says it is "vigorously tackling" the problem of smuggled mobile phones.
Mr Caton told BBC Radio 4: "Many prisoners, we know, run criminal activities, serious criminal activities, from inside prisons by the use of mobile phones.
"I'm very, very afraid that eventually it's going to get beyond that point and prisoners are going to be able to arrange for prison officers and prison staff to be attacked through using mobile phones from inside the cells."
The POA general secretary said that "with the exception probably of firearms, explosives and probably drugs, it's probably the worst thing that can happen in a prison is to have mobile phones on sale to prisoners or prisoners having them".
The association says many mobile phones are being thrown over prison walls.
In a written Parliamentary answer last week, the Ministry of Justice revealed that up to 400 mobile phones had been seized each month since October 2006.
Of course, mobile phone jammers are generally illegal in the United Kingdom - although they seem to be allowed in prisons.
I thought they were also used in some London theatres, but I may be wrong.
Personal jammers, like the one below (available on the internet for £145) are definitely ILLEGAL in the UK.
I have often wished I had one when travelling in the "quiet coach" of my train to London. The notices saying "Switch your mobile phone OFF'" are frequently ignored and the guard seems unable or unwilling to tackle offenders.
The position with regard to the use of jammers in other countries is as follows:
Australia: Illegal.
Belgium: Illegal to sell, possess and operate (licensed part of the spectrum).
Canada: Illegal.
Czech Republic: Illegal.
Finland: Illegal.
France: France legalized cell-phone jammers in (movie) theaters and other places with performances in 2004.
Germany: Illegal, but installation in jails has been proposed.
India: Government and schools use jammers.
Mexico: Legal inside jails, often used also in churches and hospitals.
New Zealand: Legal inside jails.
Norway: Illegal to own and operate. The police and the military can use jammers in situations in which it is necessary.
UK: Illegal.
USA: Illegal to operate, manufacture, import, or offer for sale, with fines of up to $11,000 and imprisonment of up to one year.
