New technology to prevent drones being used to transport drugs into jail
Concerns continue to grow over inmates at Australia's toughest jails receiving illegal packages delivered into prisons by drones.
Drugs, weapons and mobile phones are among the items being dropped off to prisoners in what is becoming a common security breach across the nation.
Exclusive Freedom of Information documents obtained by 7 News highlight an emerging crisis of drones infiltrating our toughest jails, with 28 violations recorded in the past two years.
But 7 News understands Australia's law enforcement agencies are looking closely at using emerging technology in a bid to protect prisons from drone intrusions.
They are exploring the potential use of a drone defence system that uses a futuristic gun to jam the signals between the device and its operator.
Once jammed, the device would either fall to the ground in a controlled manner or return to the operator.
"The illegal use of drones is serious," Corrections Minister David Elliot said.
"At the moment we are looking at whole lot of technologies that might be available."
The high-tech gun appears to be the frontrunner in drone prevention however European prisons' choice of using trained birds of prey to attack drones could prove to be a more affordable option.
Anyone caught illegally flying a drone over Australian prisons could face up to two years behind bars.
