Drone detectors planned to combat prison drug smugglers

After three reported attempts to drop contraband by air to SA jails, Yatala and the Remand Centre may soon implement hi-tech systems to catch drug, phone and weapon drops.

Yatala Labour Prison (pictured) and the Adelaide Remand Centre likely to be the first two sites to use the technology. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Drone detector systems may soon be introduced at some of South Australia’s prisons to thwart aerial delivery of contraband.

Correctional Services is calling for quotes for the hi-tech systems, with Yatala Labour Prison and the Adelaide Remand Centre likely to be the first two sites to use the technology.

There have been three drone related incidents at SA prisons over the past year that are still under investigation.

Interstate prisons have reported dozens of attempts to deliver drugs and mobile telephones to prisoners using drones, with several already deploying drone detection systems that either alert prison managers to their presence or disable them.

Correctional Services chief executive officer David Brown said the use of drone detection technology “supported the department’s commitment to reduce contraband in the prison environment.’’

“Drone activity around prisons has been an emerging risk for some time that all Correctional jurisdictions are managing,’’ he said.

Correctional Services CEO David Brown. NewsWire / David Mariuz

Interstate prisons have reported dozens of attempts to deliver drugs and mobile telephones to prisoners using drones. Picture: Brett Costello

He said the move would ensure Corrections has “current knowledge of market capability and emerging technologies to ensure our response to the threat of drone activities remains contemporary.’’

Last financial year 76,000 searches were conducted on prisoners, prisoner areas and their cells and property throughout the State’s prisons.

This activity resulted in 665 prohibited items being detected, ranging from mobile phones, unauthorised medication and syringes to tattooing equipment.

A request for quote document detailing Correctional Services’ requirements for the drone detection system state it must be “portable or semi-portable’’ that can be deployed at any prison site.

The system needs to be remotely monitored and “provide real-time alerts to drones being flown over the prison perimeter or within 1km’’ of a prison.

The document also specifies the detection system must be able to detect both GPS and non-GPS drones, provide approximate flight path and location for non-GPS drones and have capability to detect the latest DJI drones.