Crackdown on the crimelords using mobile phones in prison

Published on Thursday 25 September 2008 21:52

MOBILE-PHONE blockers are to be used as part of a crackdown on underworld bosses who run their criminal empires from prison, it was confirmed yesterday.

Sentences of up to two years are also being lined up in the most serious cases, to deal with the issue. The current maximum sentence is 30 days.

The sentencing shake-up is part of the forthcoming Criminal Justice and Licensing Bill, with the blockers to run alongside this.

Mobile phones are commonly used in prisons, according to a government document on the bill published yesterday, and are becoming harder to detect because of their decreasing size.

They are either smuggled in by prisoners, or by contractors working in prisons, or thrown over prison walls, according to the Scottish Prison Service (SPS).

The new legislation specifically outlaws mobile phone use in prison, which is needed before technology is introduced to block signals.

The bill is likely to come before Parliament early next year.

An extension of sexual offences prevention orders to provide more safeguards for the public will also be included in the bill. In addition, there will be new measures to protect the public from exposure to extreme pornography.

The justice secretary, Kenny MacAskill, said yesterday. "I want to ensure that the people working in our criminal justice system are equipped to deal with the impact of offending, from the moment a crime is committed, through the police investigation and court process and on to sentencing,"

"We have already announced new measures to crack down on serious and organised crime and are consulting on the creation of a sentencing council to ensure consistency of sentencing – measures to be included in the bill."

Mr MacAskill went on: "These changes, along with the others, will allow the police, courts and prisons to take the fight to criminals and ensure Scotland is a safer and stronger place for hard-working families to live and work in."

The bill will also see the abolition of "unruly" certificates to end the remanding of children to adult prisons.

It will also end the rule which means spouses and civil partners do not have to give evidence against each other in court cases.

The measures include action to tackle junior associates who help ensure that criminal activity is carried out.