13 phones seized in jail
(CNS): As the prison service continues to battle against smugglers and the flow of contraband into HMP Northward, officials said Thursday that 13 cell phones and chargers have been intercepted over a matter of weeks. The authorities said they intercepted over six pounds of ganja as well as the phones between early October and mid-November. Despite the ongoing efforts of the Cayman Islands Prison Service and a zero-tolerance approach, Prison Director Neil Lavis said efforts were being frustrated by members of the public who continue to try to smuggle items to inmates or throw them over the double-perimeter fences.
With the continued security breaches, management is struggling to maintain the safety of staff and prisoners, and in the case of the use of smart phones, those on the outside as well.
The Office of the Complaints Commissioner (OCC) has recommended that the prison using phone jamming or scrambling equipment to prevent the use of cell phones by inmates and reduce the need for invasive searches, which could expose the authorities to legal problems, but the prison says such equipment is costly and, given the proximity of a local telecommunications tower to Northward, technically challenging.
However, with the recent seizures it is clear that many people continue to attempt to smuggle phones into the jail for the inmates and the prison director has pointed the finger at visitors and members of the public, who, he says, continue to supply the prison with drugs and phones.
“The most concerning part is that, as our information suggests, these drugs are being delivered or transported by members of the general public,” Lavis said. “It is important to remind people on the outside that it is a criminal offence to smuggle, or attempt to smuggle these items into the prison premises.”
Category: Crime
Why not just stop all visits? These prisoners have clearly abused privileges. If that does not stop the phones and drugs then just end all parole too.
Prison management is not serious about this or it would be stopped. I think they prefer to winge and whine about the public rather than get the job done. Perhaps a ploy for "more resources" as they build an empire.
What about the resources that were provided but are being squandered or not put to use. For example, the cameras, the special chair to detect contraband etc. ???
Looking at google maps of Northward, there is literally one road going in and out of Northward prison.
Are you meaning to tell me they couldn't put a guard and a security camera there to monitor the cars coming in and out? What a pathetic disgrace. Instead of trying to cover up and lie to the public, just give every prisoner a cell phone and legalize ganja.
XXXX I think it's ridiculous that we get these smuggling reports in the news about the prison every week, and there is never a response from government about upgrading the prison infastructure (even a few cameras!)
Something is amiss.
There are cameras all around the perimeter, the prison has posted video previously on a guy getting out a car and launching what turned out to be 2lbs of herb over the fence, then he calmly gets back into his car and drives off…..you then see a female prison guard walk up to inspect it.
If the cameras are part of the CCTV project then we all know why there is a problem.
Note: These phones are being re-sold or use for other services.
This is a business venture of someones.
This is a no brainer… then again… the saying is…. common sense is not so common! Prosecute members of the public that are doing this. They are breaking the law, make an example of them!
I am so sick and tired of reading about this issue in the news! We just hired a new prison director… from overseas and one who brings much experience they say.
Nothing wrong with this, if he has all they say he does….yet it seems as if the prison powers that be…not only him… are scared to make the call when it comes down to it.
I say this because… it seem as if to date, there are no solid solutions. What is taking so long? The public has been giving great suggesions via this medium.
Please I beg….consider employing some of those. There have been some decent, possibly cost effective ideas put forward…If you don't care for those….come up with better solution then…BUT FAST.
JUST DO SOMETHING LIKE YESTERDAY….. PLEASE…. IT IS LONG OVERDUE!
Charge the suppliers & the prisoners! Wp
Tag and put taps on all the baby mamas and some of their friends. There is a syndicate of them from east, west, north and south. Do some recon in prospect and savannah too word on the street is that they are bigger dealer than th baby daddy's. Cayman is breeding a line of criminals if this continues, many of these young girls love the thug life and are training their children in that life style already. Please RCIP round them up and deal with them we are just too small of a society to accept this type of behaviour. When you do your road blocks don't always focus on the male some females are just as or more dangerous.
Great work, it's thankless and unrewarding I know but we have to be pro active at all times,
facebook police,
Excellent comment, facebook police. I hope the police department will take some of the perpetuators off the street for Christmas and into prison where they belong.
with wire tapping coming into effect, why not allow the prisonors to keep making calls and then the rcips can listen in catch the criminals..
true dat
6lbs!?! Holy smoke batman. THAT is a LOT of pot!!!
How about they trace the phones and find out who is paying for service or who registered the phones. Charge the suppliers a hefty fine to deter future breaches.
The police just have to do hat you suggest. Give the personwho supplied and pays for the phone bill a hefty hefty fine. Shw them who is the boss and that they are BREAKING THE LAW? If the do it a second time they can join their friend in prison.
Call history on the phones and charge the Baby mamma on the other end (obstruction of justice?) if any of these "0utside friends" are on permits- immediately revoke. We need a strong arm of the law (All enforcement groups from customs to crime!) to eradicate our social ills.
Yes check the baby mamas like one who is selling highgrade ganja while her baby daddy is in Northward making the connections and she works as a front but is one of the biggest drug pusher in a certain area in GT. Police need to look into.
Why don't you help them?
Many of the cell phones are disposable, trace the BB.
Not much difference between those inside the fence and outside. Oh those lawless Caymanas.
A coulke of simple solutions that may help deter contraband from coming in:
1). A no conact visit, like in most prison systems visitation is done with a glass barrier inbetween.
2). No outside commissary items should be brought in from family & friends. Items should be purchased from a moniored system within.
3). Prison guards stationed throughout fence areas /perimeters.
4.) Build a Guarded watchtower.
The above suggesstions wouldnt be too costly, then again that's pobably why they won't be considered; C I Government is only interested is overpriced non-solutions.
Yep, it seems there are solutions but I guess we don't want the prisoners to get mad. Actually, that's what I understood from someone who is working up there………..they are intimidated by the prisoners and don't want them to get out of control.
Problem is that the general public never hears about anyone being caught and punished for smuggling items during a prison visit. How can that be??? Clearly, someone is not doing their job…………
Are the prisoners who are caught with smuggled items penalized? Do they lose any privileges, are they getting time added on?
Come on Prison Director – stop your whining, try be creative and come up with solutions. Rather than always hearing what CAN"T be done, why don't you tell us what CAN be done?
Everyone is afraid of another prison riot. The prisoners ARE in control and throw their family's votes around like currency. XXXX
The change must come from the TOP. No more cronies and corruption. Make it a prison and not a palace. 6lbs of ganga? That is a huge amount. The guards must be getting high too.
Ask Steve and Roper what happended to them during the last riot.
6lbs is what they caught! Imagine what they don't find…………… It's a fact that for every drug bust, 100 other people got away, which is why the war on drugs is the biggest waste of money and time on the planet.
Its going nowhere, drugs have been around since man figured out how to get high, and it will be around until all of mankind die.
I have heard that shackles help limit the effectiveness of rioting. Just sayin'.
An example needs to be made of one of the visitors – as a deterrent to all the others. Its is an offence and should be treated as such. Next visitor caught needs to be charged and either fined heavily, or thrown into jail too. Mr Lavis has an uphill battle.
If that much smuggling is being detected, why are there few if any prosecutions?
The ICTA Law allows the ICTA to impose restrictions on any license, including restrictions relating to proximity to critical infrastructure such as prisons. Why is the tower not being moved?
Keep waiting on ICTA to do something or anything at all. zzzzzzz
I don't understand how anyone can approach the prison perimeter within range to hurl something over the fence and not reasonably expect to be apprehended in the act. Unless of course there is either tolerence or nil enforcement. Install Cameras, laser trip sensor alarms, and warning signage. If it's still getting in, then you know it's a guard problem.
Its been a guard problem from day one! They need to hire people who WILL NOT tolerate these punks and their bad behaviour. They need to get REAL before things get worse. If it gets to the point of no return we will ALL be up sh%$ creek (so to speak).
It does sound like a guard problem. They need to patrol outside the fence and keep people away. You can literally walk right up to the fence. How is that allowed?