October 14, 2005
Australia. Total ban on mobile phones in state jails
The The Courrier-Mail reports that staff, contractors, police officers and even dignitaries will be banned from taking mobile phones into Queensland prisons under a security crackdown.
"The ban was issued following concerns prisoners may be able to take advantage of new technology which allows people to e-mail and access the Internet from mobile phones.
Prisoners are already banned from having mobiles but bans will now be extended to anyone entering a prison including staff, management, contractors, visiting police officers and dignitaries such as the Premier to reduce the risk of them falling into the wrong hands.
These people had previously been able to seek permission to take a phone into a jail, but this will now be denied. Anyone caught trying to take a mobile phone into a Queensland prison faces a maximum penalty of two years' jail.
.. Mobile phones were a growing problem in jails worldwide. cf Inmates and cell phones category in textually.org
... Prison authorities across Australia have found mobile phones hidden in body parts, in tins of baked beans, cakes and blocks of cheese.
Several years ago, ministers considered blocking mobile phone reception in jails after NSW authorities found 35 mobiles had been used to make more than 56,000 calls. "
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