The Johnson Partnership, News

27/01/25

Organised crime gangs using drones to smuggle contraband have effectively seized control of the airspace over two high-security prisons, posing a serious risk to national security, according to Charlie Taylor, the Chief Inspector of Prisons. Taylor revealed that HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire and HMP Manchester have become hubs for illegal trade, with organized criminals using drones to deliver drugs, mobile phones, and weapons to inmates, including gang leaders and terrorists.

18/12/24

Metropolitan Police civilian staff, including 999 call handlers and child protection officers, have voted to strike in protest over a requirement to spend more time working in the office.

More than half of the 2,400 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union supported the industrial action after being told they would need to return to the office starting in January.

27/11/24

Recent reports reveal a dramatic increase in "crash-for-cash" scams involving moped riders, with incidents up by an astonishing 380% over the past year. These scams, where fraudsters stage accidents to make false insurance claims, have been primarily driven by the rise of pay-as-you-go insurance for delivery drivers.

According to Direct Line, the ease of obtaining insurance for mopeds has allowed scammers posing as delivery riders to exploit the system. 

29/10/24

A recent report from a prison watchdog reveals a staggering drug crisis in jails, with up to three-quarters of inmates testing positive for drugs. The chief inspector of prisons expressed shock at HMP Hindley, near Wigan, where the positive test rate soared to 77% earlier this year.

Other prisons are also reporting that over half of their inmates have been caught using drugs. This alarming trend coincides with a rise in organized crime gangs using drones to smuggle substances into correctional facilities.

27/09/24

Prisons are gearing up to transport hundreds of inmates as part of the largest early release initiative in over a decade.

The Prison Governors' Association (PGA) reports that jail administrators, particularly from remote facilities, are planning to arrange bus services to nearby public transport for approximately 1,750 prisoners set to be released under the government's early release scheme on Tuesday. This includes individuals convicted of violent offenses.