Drones could be used to lift inmates over prison walls and help them escape, a prisons watchdog has warned.
Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, said drones are also being used to make drug deliveries to Manchester and Long Lartin prisons, which have held terrorists and organised crime bosses.
In his annual report published today, Taylor said police and the prison service have "ceded the airspace" above the two high security prisons to "organised crime gangs" which are able to deliver contraband to prisons.
"What’s scary, and we haven’t reached this stage yet, but, if you look on Google, you’ll be able to see someone being lifted up by a drone," Taylor said.
Drones could be used to carry inmates out of prison, the chief watchdog has warned
PA"So you know this isn’t ultimately just a risk of what might come in.
"There is also a danger of what might go out of prisons as well.”
When asked by The Telegraph if he meant there was a risk of a prisoner escaping with the help of a drone, he said there is a "theoretical possibility of that risk".